312 IAC 0.1 — ARTICLE 0.1. CURRENT TEMPORARY RULES
title-312-article-0.1312 IAC 0.1Regulation
TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
CURRENT TEMPORARY RULES
DISCLAIMER:
As an aid to legal research, this document provides a list of currently effective temporary rules adopted by state agencies in the manner set forth in IC 4-22-2-37.1 and IC 4-22-2-37.2. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the list, this list may not provide an exhaustive enumeration of currently effective temporary rules. This list is not intended to be a substitute for traditional legal research. Exclusion of an temporary rule from this list does not affect the validity of the temporary rule. This list does not, itself, establish authority for the adoption of rules.
LSA Document #25-383 20250827-IR-312250383ERA
Provisional Rule: Temporarily supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-4 regarding season dates and bag limits.
Effective September 15, 2025.
Expires February 14, 2026.
LSA Document #25-472 20251022-IR-312250472ERA
Provisional Rule: Temporarily supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-4 under LSA Document #25-383: (1) regarding season dates and bag limits; and (2) to include additional counties where the outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease rates poses a risk to the deer population
Effective October 9, 2025.
Expires April 7, 2026.
LSA Document #26-102 20260715-IR-312260102IFA
Interim Rule: Temporarily supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-18.1 concerning bobcat hunting and increasing the statewide quota for bobcats.
Effective July 7, 2026.
Expires July 7, 2027.
LSA Document #26-202 20260902-IR-312260202IFA
Interim Rule: Temporarily supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-3 and 312 IAC 9-3-4 concerning deer hunting and increasing the antlerless bag limit in Fayette and Franklin counties.
Effective August 24, 2026.
Expires August 24, 2027.
LSA Document #26-260 20260902-IR-312260260IFA
Temporarily supplements 312 IAC 9-4-2 concerning the waterfowl season dates, bag limits, and zones for the fall 2026-2027 seasons.
Effective August 24, 2026.
Expires August 24, 2027.
Indiana Register 20250827-IR-312250383ERA LSA Document 250383
TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Provisional Rule
LSA Document #25-383
DIGEST
EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE OUTBREAK
Temporarily supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-4 regarding season dates and bag limits. Effective September 15, 2025. Expires February 14, 2026.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS
Governor's Approval: 20250827-IR-312250383GAA
Regulatory Analysis: 20250827-IR-312250383RAA
The rule, Regulatory Analysis, appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis, and materials incorporated by reference (if applicable) are on file at the Department of Natural Resources, C/O Natural Resources Commission, Legal Division, 402 West Washington Street, Room W261, Indianapolis, Indiana and are available for public inspection. Copies of the rule, Regulatory Analysis, and appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis are available at the Department of Natural Resources office.
SECTION 1. (a) This SECTION supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-4.
(b) Except as provided in 312 IAC 9-3-2, an individual may take not more than one (1) deer with a license to hunt a deer.
(c) The special youth deer season is two (2) consecutive days beginning the Saturday immediately before October 1, or as approved annually by the director as follows:
(1) The seasonal limit for taking deer under this subsection is one (1) antlered deer, and the number of antlerless deer under subsection (h). A youth hunter may take not more than one (1) antlerless deer under this subsection on the following properties operated by the department:
(A) A property operated by the division of fish and wildlife.
(B) Salamonie Lake.
(C) Mississinewa Lake.
(D) Patoka Lake.
(2) A youth hunter who takes an antlered deer under this subsection may not take another antlered deer during the:
(A) archery season under subsection (d);
(B) firearm season under subsection (f); or
(C) muzzleloader season under subsection (g).
(3) A youth hunter who takes a deer under this subsection must be accompanied by an individual at least eighteen (18) years of age who:
(A) does not possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field, except for a handgun carried lawfully under IC 35-47-2;
(B) possesses a license to hunt a wild animal that is not an apprentice license, unless the individual is exempt from needing a license to hunt under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14;
(C) may not accompany more than two (2) youth hunters at one (1) time; and
(D) is in proximity and able to communicate with the youth hunter during the hunt.
(d) The archery deer season begins October 1 and ends the first Sunday in January. An individual may take not more than the number of deer permitted under 312 IAC 9-3-2 under this subsection.
(e) The deer reduction season is as follows:
(1) Begins September 15 and ends January 31 in a deer reduction zone.
(2) Under this subsection, an individual:
(A) may take not more than ten (10) deer, of which only one (1) deer may be an antlered deer; and
(B) shall take at least one (1) antlerless deer in a deer reduction zone before taking an antlered deer.
(3) A deer taken under this subsection does not count against a bag limit for deer under this rule.
(4) The Evansville deer reduction zone is the portion of Vanderburgh County south of East Boonville-New Harmony Road, except for the following areas:
(A) The area south of Interstate 164/Veterans Memorial Parkway from the Warrick County line to the east to where it intersects Main Street along the Ohio River Shore to the west.
(B) The area south of the intersection of Broadway Avenue and the Posey County line to the west, extending east to Bayou Creek Road and east to the Ohio River with Bayou Creek Road and extending east to the Ohio River.
(5) The Lafayette deer reduction zone is the portion of Tippecanoe County as follows:
(A) The area to the east, beginning at the intersection of Interstate 65 and County Road 600 North following Interstate 65 south to the junction with State Road 38.
(B) The area along State Road 38 from the intersection of Interstate 65 and State Road 38 west to Veterans Memorial Parkway/County Road 350 South, then south along Veterans Memorial Parkway west to the junction with U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52.
(C) The area from the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway/County Road 350 South and U.S. Highway 231 following U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 north to the junction with State Road 25.
(D) The area from the intersection of State Road 25 and U.S. Highway 231 south along State Road 25 to the intersection of County Road 300 South and State Road 25 South.
(E) The area from the intersection of State Road 25 South and County Road 300 South to the west along County Road 300 South to the intersection of County Road 300 South and County Road 700 West.
(F) The area from the intersection of County Road 700 West and County Road 300 South to the north along County Road 700 West to the intersection of County Road 700 West and Division Road/South River Road.
(G) The area from the intersection of County Road 700 West and Division Road/South River Road to the east along Division Road/South River Road to the intersection of Division Road/South River Road and South Newman Road.
(H) The area from the intersection of South Newman Road and Division Road/South River Road to the north along South Newman Road to the intersection of South Newman Road and State Road 26/State Street.
(I) The area from the intersection of South Newman Road and State Road 26/State Street to the east along State Road 26/State Street to the intersection of State Road 26/State Street and U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52.
(J) The area to the north along U.S. Highway 231 from the intersection of State Road 26/State Street and U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 to the intersection of U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 and State Road 52/U.S. Highway 231.
(K) The area to the west along State Road 52 from the intersection of State Road 52 and U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 to the intersection of State Road 52 and County Road 400 West.
(L) The area to the north along County Road 400 West from the intersection of State Road 52/U.S. Highway 231 to the intersection of County Road 400 West and County Road 375 West.
(M) The area to the north along County Road 375 West from the junction with County Road 400 West to the intersection of County Road 375 West and County Road 600 North.
(N) The area to the east along County Road 600 North from the junction with County Road 375 West to the intersection of County Road 600 North and Interstate 65.
(6) The Michigan City/LaPorte deer reduction zone is the portion of LaPorte County between Lake Michigan and the following boundary:
(A) The area from the junction of the Porter/LaPorte County line and Interstate 94 to the east to the intersection of Interstate 94 and Johnson Road.
(B) The area from the intersection of Interstate 94 and Johnson Road to the south to the intersection of Johnson Road and County Road 500 West.
(C) The area from the south along County Road 500 West from the intersection at Johnson Road to the intersection of County Road 500 West and State Road 2.
(D) The area from the east along State Road 2 from the intersection at County Road 500 West to the intersection of State Road 2 and State Road 39/Longwood Drive.
(E) The area to the south along State Road 39/Longwood Drive from the intersection at State Road 2 to the intersection at County Road 400 South.
(F) The area to the east along County Road 400 South from the intersection at State Road 2 to the intersection at County Road 300 East.
(G) The area to the north along County Road 300 East from the intersection at County Road 400 South to the intersection at Division Road.
(H) The area to the west along Division Road from the intersection at County Road 300 East to the intersection at County Road 250 East.
(I) The area to the north along County Road 250 East from the intersection at Division Road to the intersection at County Road 150 North.
(J) The area to the west along County Road 150 North from the intersection at County Road 250 East to the intersection at Fail Road.
(K) The area to the north along North Fail Road from the intersection at County Road 150 North to the intersection at U.S. Highway 20.
(L) The area to the west along U.S. Highway 20 from the intersection at North Fail Road to the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Interstate 94.
(M) The area to the north along Interstate 94 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the junction with the Indiana/Michigan state line.
(7) The Muncie deer reduction zone is the portion of Delaware County as follows:
(A) The area at the intersection of Yorktown-Gaston Pike/County Road 600 West, extending east along State Road 332 East to the intersection at Nebo Road.
(B) The area to the north along Nebo Road from the intersection at State Road 332 to the intersection at County Road 500 North/Royerton Road.
(C) The area to the east along County Road 500 North/Royerton Road from the intersection at North Nebo Road to the intersection at U.S. Highway 35.
(D) The area to the south along U.S. Highway 35 from the intersection at County Road 500 North/Royerton Road to the intersection at State Road 67.
(E) The area to the south along State Road 67 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 35 to the intersection at County Road 400 South.
(F) The area to the west along County Road 400 South from the intersection at State Road 67 to the intersection at South Marsh Avenue/County Road 600 West.
(G) The area to the north along Marsh Avenue/County Road 600 West from the intersection at County Road 400 South to intersection at State Road 32.
(H) The area to the east along State Road 32 from the intersection at Marsh Avenue to the intersection at Tiger Drive/County Road 575 West.
(I) The area to the north along Tiger Drive/County Road 575 West from the intersection at State Road 32 to the intersection at River Road.
(J) The area to the west along River Road from the intersection at Tiger Drive to the intersection at Yorktown-Gaston Pike/County Road 600 West.
(K) The area to the north along Yorktown-Gaston Pike/County Road 600 West to the intersection at State Road 332.
(8) The South Bend/Mishawaka/Elkhart deer reduction zone is the portion of St. Joseph County and Elkhart County south of the Michigan state line as follows:
(A) The area at the junction of U.S. Highway 31 and the Indiana/Michigan state line to the south along U.S. Highway 31 to the intersection at U.S. Highway 20.
(B) The area to the east along U.S. Highway 20/U.S. Highway 31 to the intersection at County Road 17.
(C) The area to the north along County Road 17 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the junction with the Indiana/Michigan state line.
(9) The Warsaw deer reduction zone is the portion of Kosciusko County as follows:
(A) The area at the intersection of State Road 15 and Levi Lee Road, extending east to the intersection of Levi Lee Road and County Road 100 East.
(B) The area to the south along County Road 100 East from the intersection at Levi Lee Road to the intersection at County Road 450 North.
(C) The area to the east along County Road 450 North from the intersection at County Road 100 East to the intersection at Chapman Lake Drive.
(D) The area to the south along Chapman Lake Drive from the intersection at County Road 450 North to the intersection at County Road 300 East.
(E) The area to the south along County Road 300 East from the intersection at Chapman Lake Road to the intersection at Old U.S. Highway 30/E. Old Road 30.
(F) The area to the east on Old U.S. Highway 30/E. Old Road 30 from the intersection at County Road 300 East to the intersection at County Road 450 East.
(G) The area to the south along County Road 450 East from the intersection at Old U.S. Highway 30/E. Old Road 30 to the intersection at U.S. Highway 30.
(H) The area to the east on U.S. Highway 30 from the intersection at County Road 450 East to the intersection at Van Ness Road.
(I) The area to the south along Van Ness Road from the intersection at U.S. Highway 30 to the intersection at Wooster Road.
(J) The area to the west along Wooster Road from the intersection at Van Ness Road to the intersection at County Road 500 East.
(K) The area to the south along County Road 500 East from the intersection at Wooster Road to the intersection at County Road 350 South.
(L) The area to the west along County Road 350 South from the intersection at County Road 500 East to the intersection at County Road 450 East.
(M) The area to the south along County Road 450 East from the intersection at County Road 350 South to the intersection at County Road 400 South.
(N) The area to the west along County Road 400 South from the intersection at County Road 450 East to the intersection at State Road 15.
(O) The area to the north along State Road 15 from the intersection at County Road 400 South to the intersection at County Road 350 South.
(P) The area to the west along County Road 350 South from the intersection at State Road 15 to the intersection at County Road 450 West.
(Q) The area to the north along County Road 450 West from the intersection at County Road 350 South to the intersection at County Road 400 West.
(R) The area to the north along County Road 400 West from the intersection at County Road 450 West to the intersection at Crystal Lake Road.
(S) The area to the east along Crystal Lake Road from the intersection at County Road 400 West to the intersection at Zimmer Road.
(T) The area to the north along Zimmer Road from the intersection at Crystal Lake Road to the intersection at Lincoln Highway/Old U.S. Highway 30.
(U) The area to the west along Lincoln Highway/Old U.S. Highway 30 from the intersection at Zimmer Road to the intersection at County Road 350 West.
(V) The area to the north along County Road 350 West from the intersection at Lincoln Highway/Old U.S. Highway 30 to the intersection at U.S. Highway 30.
(W) The area to the east along U.S. Highway 30 from the intersection at County Road 350 West to the intersection at County Road 150 West/Silveus Crossing.
(X) The area to the north along County Road 150 West/Silveus Crossing from the intersection at U.S. Highway 30 to the intersection at County Road 400 North.
(Y) The area to the east along County Road 400 North from the intersection at County Road 150 West/Silveus Crossing to the intersection at State Road 15.
(Z) The area to the north along State Road 15 from the intersection at County Road 400 North to the intersection at Levi Lee Road.
(10) The Allen County deer reduction zone is the portion of Allen County as follows:
(A) The area between Interstate 69 and Interstate 469.
(B) The area to the west of Interstate 69 that extends north of Lafayette Center Road and south of State Road 14.
(C) The area west of Interstate 69 to the:
(i) north of U.S. Highway 30;
(ii) east of O Day Road to the intersection at State Road 33;
(iii) south of State Road 33 to the intersection at Johnson Road;
(iv) east of Johnson Road north to the intersection at West Shoaff Road;
(v) south of West Shoaff Road east to the intersection at State Road 3; and
(vi) east of State Road 3 north to the junction with the DeKalb County line.
(D) The area to the east of Interstate 69, to the north of Interstate 469, to the west of the St. Joseph River, and to the south of Schlatter Road.
(11) The Cordry-Sweetwater deer reduction zone is the portion of Brown County contained within the Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District.
(12) The Brown County deer reduction zone is the portion of Brown County as follows:
(A) The area not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of State Road 46 from the Monroe County line to the Bartholomew County line.
(B) The area of Monroe Lake located not more than one-half (1/2) mile from the centerline of State Road 46.
(C) The area that is the management units of Yellowwood State Forest contained within the following tracts:
(i) Compartment 2, Tracts 2 and 40.
(ii) Compartment 3, Tracts 1 and 2.
(iii) Compartment 4, Tract 2.
(iv) Compartment 5, Tracts 5, 9, 10, 11, and 15.
(v) Compartment 8, Tract 27.
(vi) Compartment 9, Tract 1.
The Brown County deer reduction zone does not include any portion of Brown County State Park.
(13) The Dearborn County deer reduction zone is the portion of Dearborn County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of the following road segments:
(A) The area of U.S. 50 from the Dearborn/Ripley County line east to the Indiana state line.
(B) The area of State Road 148 from the intersection at State Road 48, extending south to the intersection at U.S. 50.
(C) The area of State Road 48 from the intersection at State Road 148, extending south to the intersection at U.S. 50.
(14) The DeKalb County deer reduction zone is the portion of DeKalb County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of Interstate 69 from the DeKalb/Steuben County line south to the DeKalb/Allen County line.
(15) The Fulton County deer reduction zone is a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of U.S. Highway 31 from the Fulton/Marshall County line to the south to the intersection at State Road 14.
(16) The LaGrange County deer reduction zone is a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of the following road segments:
(A) The area of U.S. Highway 20 from the intersection at State Road 9 to the east to the LaGrange/Steuben County line.
(B) The area of State Road 9 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the south to the LaGrange/Noble County line.
(C) The area of State Road 3 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the south to the LaGrange/Noble County line.
(17) The Lake County deer reduction zone is the portion of Lake County as follows:
(A) The area from north of the junction of the Indiana state line and 151st Avenue.
(B) The area from 151st Avenue east to the intersection at U.S. Highway 41.
(C) The area from U.S. Highway 41 south to the intersection at State Road 2.
(D) The area from State Road 2 east to the intersection at Interstate 65.
(E) The area from Interstate 65 north to the intersection at 145th Avenue.
(F) The area from 145th Avenue east to the intersection at U.S. Highway 231.
(G) The area from U.S. Highway 231 south to the junction with the Porter County line.
(18) The Madison County deer reduction zone is the portion of Madison County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of Interstate 69 from the Madison/Hamilton County line east to the Madison/Delaware County line.
(19) The Griffy Lake Nature Preserve deer reduction zone is the portion of Monroe County contained in the Griffy Lake Nature Preserve.
(20) The Monroe County deer reduction zone is the portion of Monroe County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of State Road 37 from the Interstate 69 split south to the junction with the Monroe/Lawrence County line.
(21) The Steuben County deer reduction zone is the portion of Steuben County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of the following road segments:
(A) The area of Interstate 69 from the Indiana state line south to the junction with the Steuben/DeKalb County line.
(B) The area of Interstate 80/90 Toll Road from the Steuben/LaGrange County line east to the intersection at Interstate 69.
(C) The area of U.S. Highway 20 from the Steuben/LaGrange County line east to the intersection at Interstate 69.
(22) The Wabash County deer reduction zone is the portion of Wabash County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of State Road 114 from the junction with the Wabash/Fulton County line east to the intersection at State Road 13.
(23) The Warrick County deer reduction zone is the portion of Warrick County extending south of State Road 62 from the junction with the Warrick/Vanderburgh County line, then to the intersection at State Road 61 as follows:
(A) The area to the south along State Road 61 to the intersection at State Road 66.
(B) The area to the west along State Road 66 to the intersection at the French Island Trail.
(C) The area to the west along the French Island Trail to the intersection at Jennings Street.
(D) The area to the west along Jennings Street to the intersection at Old State Road 662.
(E) The area to the west along Old State Road 662 to the intersection at State Road 662.
(F) The area to the west along State Road 662 to the junction with the Warrick/Vanderburgh County line.
(24) The deer reduction zones in central Indiana are as follows:
(A) Marion County.
(B) The area in Johnson County to the south from the Marion County line as follows:
(i) The area to the west of Interstate 65 and south to the intersection of Interstate 65 and Whiteland Road.
(ii) The area to the west along Whiteland Road to the intersection at State Road 144.
(iii) The area to the west along State Road 144 to the intersection at State Road 37.
(iv) The area to the south along State Road 37 to the junction with the Johnson/Morgan County line.
(C) The area in Morgan County to the north of the junction of State Road 37 and the Morgan/Johnson County line as follows:
(i) The area to the west of State Road 37 South to the intersection of State Road 37 and State Road 39/Morton Avenue.
(ii) The area to the north along State Road 39/Morton Avenue from the intersection at State Road 37 to the intersection at State Road 67.
(iii) The area to the north along State Road 67 from the intersection at State Road 39 to the intersection at Indiana Street/State Road 267.
(iv) The area to the north along Indiana Street/State Road 267 from the intersection at State Road 67 to the intersection at State Road 42/High Street.
(v) The area to the west along State Road 42/High Street from the intersection at Indiana Street/State Road 267 to the intersection at State Road 267.
(vi) The area to the north along State Road 267 to the junction with the Morgan/Hendricks County line.
(D) The area in Hendricks County to the east of State Road 267 from the Morgan County line north to the Boone County line.
(E) The area in Boone County to the east of State Road 267 from the Hendricks County line north to the intersection at Interstate 65 as follows:
(i) The area from Interstate 65 south to the intersection at State Road 334.
(ii) The area to the east to the intersection at Ford Road/County Road 975 East/Pleasantview Road.
(iii) The area to the north to the intersection at County Road 300 South.
(iv) The area from County Road 300 South east to the junction with the Hamilton County line.
(F) The area in Hamilton County to the south of State Road 32 from the Boone County line east to the junction with U.S. Highway 31 as follows:
(i) The area to the north along U.S. Highway 31 to the intersection at 236th Street.
(ii) The area to the east along 236thStreet to the intersection at State Road 19.
(iii) The area to the south along State Road 19 to the intersection at State Road 32.
(iv) The area to the east along State Road 32 to the junction with the Madison County line.
(f) The firearms deer season begins the first Saturday after November 11 and ends after an additional fifteen (15) days. An individual may take not more than one (1) antlered deer under this subsection with a firearms license.
(g) The deer hunting season to use a muzzleloading long gun or muzzleloading handgun begins the first Saturday after the closing day of the firearms season under subsection (f) and ends after an additional fifteen (15) days. An individual may take not more than the number of deer authorized by section 2 of this rule [sic, 312 IAC 9-3-2] under this subsection.
(h) The bag limit by county to take an antlerless deer is as follows:
(1) Two (2) deer in Adams County.
(2) Two (2) deer in Allen County.
(3) Three (3) deer in Bartholomew County.
(4) Two (2) deer in Benton County.
(5) Two (2) deer in Blackford County.
(6) Three (3) deer in Boone County.
(7) Four (4) deer in Brown County.
(8) Three (3) deer in Carroll County.
(9) Three (3) deer in Cass County.
(10) Three (3) deer in Clark County.
(11) Three (3) deer in Clay County.
(12) Three (3) deer in Clinton County.
(13) Four (4) deer in Crawford County.
(14) Three (3) deer in Daviess County.
(15) Four (4) deer in Dearborn County.
(16) Two (2) deer in Decatur County.
(17) Three (3) deer in DeKalb County.
(18) Three (3) deer in Delaware County.
(19) Three (3) deer in Dubois County.
(20) Three (3) deer in Elkhart County.
(21) In Fayette County:
(A) one (1) deer beginning October 1, 2024; and
(B) two (2) deer beginning October 1, 2025.
(22) Four (4) deer in Floyd County.
(23) Three (3) deer in Fountain County.
(24) In Franklin County:
(A) one (1) deer beginning October 1, 2024; and
(B) two (2) deer beginning October 1, 2025.
(25) Three (3) deer in Fulton County.
(26) Three (3) deer in Gibson County.
(27) Three (3) deer in Grant County.
(28) Three (3) deer in Greene County.
(29) Three (3) deer in Hamilton County.
(30) Two (2) deer in Hancock County.
(31) Four (4) deer in Harrison County.
(32) Three (3) deer in Hendricks County.
(33) Three (3) deer in Henry County.
(34) Three (3) deer in Howard County.
(35) Three (3) deer in Huntington County.
(36) Four (4) deer in Jackson County.
(37) Three (3) deer in Jasper County.
(38) Two (2) deer in Jay County.
(39) Four (4) deer in Jefferson County.
(40) Four (4) deer in Jennings County.
(41) Three (3) deer in Johnson County.
(42) Three (3) deer in Knox County.
(43) Three (3) deer in Kosciusko County.
(44) Three (3) deer in LaGrange County.
(45) Three (3) deer in Lake County.
(46) Three (3) deer in LaPorte County.
(47) Four (4) deer in Lawrence County.
(48) Three (3) deer in Madison County.
(49) Three (3) deer in Marion County.
(50) Three (3) deer in Marshall County.
(51) Three (3) deer in Martin County.
(52) Three (3) deer in Miami County.
(53) Four (4) deer in Monroe County.
(54) Three (3) deer in Montgomery County.
(55) Four (4) deer in Morgan County.
(56) Three (3) deer in Newton County.
(57) Three (3) deer in Noble County.
(58) Three (3) deer in Ohio County.
(59) Four (4) deer in Orange County.
(60) Four (4) deer in Owen County.
(61) Three (3) deer in Parke County.
(62) Four (4) deer in Perry County.
(63) Three (3) deer in Pike County.
(64) Two (2) deer in Porter County.
(65) Three (3) deer in Posey County.
(66) Three (3) deer in Pulaski County.
(67) Three (3) deer in Putnam County.
(68) Two (2) deer in Randolph County.
(69) Four (4) deer in Ripley County.
(70) Two (2) deer in Rush County.
(71) Three (3) deer in St. Joseph County.
(72) Four (4) deer in Scott County.
(73) Two (2) deer in Shelby County.
(74) Three (3) deer in Spencer County.
(75) Three (3) deer in Starke County.
(76) Two (2) deer in Steuben County.
(77) Three (3) deer in Sullivan County.
(78) Three (3) deer in Switzerland County.
(79) Three (3) deer in Tippecanoe County.
(80) Two (2) deer in Tipton County.
(81) Three (3) deer in Union County.
(82) Three (3) deer in Vanderburgh County.
(83) Three (3) deer in Vermillion County.
(84) Three (3) deer in Vigo County.
(85) Two (2) deer in Wabash County.
(86) Three (3) deer in Warren County.
(87) Three (3) deer in Warrick County.
(88) Four (4) deer in Washington County.
(89) Three (3) deer in Wayne County.
(90) Two (2) deer in Wells County.
(91) Three (3) deer in White County.
(92) Three (3) deer in Whitley County.
SECTION 2. This rule expires February 14, 2026.
LSA Document #25-383
Approved by Governor: July 12, 2025
Filed with Publisher: August 18, 2025, 12:12 p.m.
Indiana Register 20251022-IR-312250472ERA LSA Document 250472
TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Provisional Rule
LSA Document #25-472
DIGEST
EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE OUTBREAK
Temporarily supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-4 under LSA Document #25-383 : (1) regarding season dates and bag limits; and (2) to include additional counties where the outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease rates poses a risk to the deer population. Effective October 9, 2025. Expires April 7, 2026.
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS
Provisional Rule, LSA Document #25-383: 20250827-IR-312250383ERA
Governor's Approval: 20251022-IR-312250472GAA
Regulatory Analysis: 20251022-IR-312250472RAA
The rule, Regulatory Analysis, appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis, and materials incorporated by reference (if applicable) are on file at the Department of Natural Resources, C/O Natural Resources Commission, Legal Division, 402 West Washington Street, Room W261, Indianapolis, Indiana and are available for public inspection. Copies of the rule, Regulatory Analysis, and appendices referenced in the Regulatory Analysis are available at the Department of Natural Resources office.
SECTION 1. (a) This SECTION supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-4 under LSA Document #25-383.
(b) Except as provided in 312 IAC 9-3-2, an individual may take not more than one (1) deer with a license to hunt a deer.
(c) The special youth deer season is two (2) consecutive days beginning the Saturday immediately before October 1, or as approved annually by the director as follows:
(1) The seasonal limit for taking deer under this subsection is one (1) antlered deer, and the number of antlerless deer under subsection (h). A youth hunter may take not more than one (1) antlerless deer under this subsection on the following properties operated by the department:
(A) A property operated by the division of fish and wildlife.
(B) Salamonie Lake.
(C) Mississinewa Lake.
(D) Patoka Lake.
(2) A youth hunter who takes an antlered deer under this subsection may not take another antlered deer during the:
(A) archery season under subsection (d);
(B) firearm season under subsection (f); or
(C) muzzleloader season under subsection (g).
(3) A youth hunter who takes a deer under this subsection must be accompanied by an individual at least eighteen (18) years of age who:
(A) does not possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field, except for a handgun carried lawfully under IC 35-47-2;
(B) possesses a license to hunt a wild animal that is not an apprentice license, unless the individual is exempt from needing a license to hunt under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14;
(C) may not accompany more than two (2) youth hunters at one (1) time; and
(D) is in proximity and able to communicate with the youth hunter during the hunt.
(d) The archery deer season begins October 1 and ends the first Sunday in January. An individual may take not more than the number of deer permitted under 312 IAC 9-3-2 under this subsection.
(e) The deer reduction season is as follows:
(1) Begins September 15 and ends January 31 in a deer reduction zone.
(2) Under this subsection, an individual:
(A) may take not more than ten (10) deer, of which only one (1) deer may be an antlered deer; and
(B) shall take at least one (1) antlerless deer in a deer reduction zone before taking an antlered deer.
(3) A deer taken under this subsection does not count against a bag limit for deer under this rule [sic] .
(4) The Evansville deer reduction zone is the portion of Vanderburgh County south of East Boonville-New Harmony Road, except for the following areas:
(A) The area south of Interstate 164/Veterans Memorial Parkway from the Warrick County line to the east to where it intersects Main Street along the Ohio River Shore to the west.
(B) The area south of the intersection of Broadway Avenue and the Posey County line to the west, extending east to Bayou Creek Road and east to the Ohio River with Bayou Creek Road and extending east to the Ohio River.
(5) The Lafayette deer reduction zone is the portion of Tippecanoe County as follows:
(A) The area to the east, beginning at the intersection of Interstate 65 and County Road 600 North following Interstate 65 south to the junction with State Road 38.
(B) The area along State Road 38 from the intersection of Interstate 65 and State Road 38 west to Veterans Memorial Parkway/County Road 350 South, then south along Veterans Memorial Parkway west to the junction with U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52.
(C) The area from the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway/County Road 350 South and U.S. Highway 231 following U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 north to the junction with State Road 25.
(D) The area from the intersection of State Road 25 and U.S. Highway 231 south along State Road 25 to the intersection of County Road 300 South and State Road 25 South.
(E) The area from the intersection of State Road 25 South and County Road 300 South to the west along County Road 300 South to the intersection of County Road 300 South and County Road 700 West.
(F) The area from the intersection of County Road 700 West and County Road 300 South to the north along County Road 700 West to the intersection of County Road 700 West and Division Road/South River Road.
(G) The area from the intersection of County Road 700 West and Division Road/South River Road to the east along Division Road/South River Road to the intersection of Division Road/South River Road and South Newman Road.
(H) The area from the intersection of South Newman Road and Division Road/South River Road to the north along South Newman Road to the intersection of South Newman Road and State Road 26/State Street.
(I) The area from the intersection of South Newman Road and State Road 26/State Street to the east along State Road 26/State Street to the intersection of State Road 26/State Street and U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52.
(J) The area to the north along U.S. Highway 231 from the intersection of State Road 26/State Street and U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 to the intersection of U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 and State Road 52/U.S. Highway 231.
(K) The area to the west along State Road 52 from the intersection of State Road 52 and U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 to the intersection of State Road 52 and County Road 400 West.
(L) The area to the north along County Road 400 West from the intersection of State Road 52/U.S. Highway 231 to the intersection of County Road 400 West and County Road 375 West.
(M) The area to the north along County Road 375 West from the junction with County Road 400 West to the intersection of County Road 375 West and County Road 600 North.
(N) The area to the east along County Road 600 North from the junction with County Road 375 West to the intersection of County Road 600 North and Interstate 65.
(6) The Michigan City/LaPorte deer reduction zone is the portion of LaPorte County between Lake Michigan and the following boundary:
(A) The area from the junction of the Porter/LaPorte County line and Interstate 94 to the east to the intersection of Interstate 94 and Johnson Road.
(B) The area from the intersection of Interstate 94 and Johnson Road to the south to the intersection of Johnson Road and County Road 500 West.
(C) The area from the south along County Road 500 West from the intersection at Johnson Road to the intersection of County Road 500 West and State Road 2.
(D) The area from the east along State Road 2 from the intersection at County Road 500 West to the intersection of State Road 2 and State Road 39/Longwood Drive.
(E) The area to the south along State Road 39/Longwood Drive from the intersection at State Road 2 to the intersection at County Road 400 South.
(F) The area to the east along County Road 400 South from the intersection at State Road 2 to the intersection at County Road 300 East.
(G) The area to the north along County Road 300 East from the intersection at County Road 400 South to the intersection at Division Road.
(H) The area to the west along Division Road from the intersection at County Road 300 East to the intersection at County Road 250 East.
(I) The area to the north along County Road 250 East from the intersection at Division Road to the intersection at County Road 150 North.
(J) The area to the west along County Road 150 North from the intersection at County Road 250 East to the intersection at Fail Road.
(K) The area to the north along North Fail Road from the intersection at County Road 150 North to the intersection at U.S. Highway 20.
(L) The area to the west along U.S. Highway 20 from the intersection at North Fail Road to the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Interstate 94.
(M) The area to the north along Interstate 94 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the junction with the Indiana/Michigan state line.
(7) The Muncie deer reduction zone is the portion of Delaware County as follows:
(A) The area at the intersection of Yorktown-Gaston Pike/County Road 600 West, extending east along State Road 332 East to the intersection at Nebo Road.
(B) The area to the north along Nebo Road from the intersection at State Road 332 to the intersection at County Road 500 North/Royerton Road.
(C) The area to the east along County Road 500 North/Royerton Road from the intersection at North Nebo Road to the intersection at U.S. Highway 35.
(D) The area to the south along U.S. Highway 35 from the intersection at County Road 500 North/Royerton Road to the intersection at State Road 67.
(E) The area to the south along State Road 67 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 35 to the intersection at County Road 400 South.
(F) The area to the west along County Road 400 South from the intersection at State Road 67 to the intersection at South Marsh Avenue/County Road 600 West.
(G) The area to the north along Marsh Avenue/County Road 600 West from the intersection at County Road 400 South to intersection at State Road 32.
(H) The area to the east along State Road 32 from the intersection at Marsh Avenue to the intersection at Tiger Drive/County Road 575 West.
(I) The area to the north along Tiger Drive/County Road 575 West from the intersection at State Road 32 to the intersection at River Road.
(J) The area to the west along River Road from the intersection at Tiger Drive to the intersection at Yorktown-Gaston Pike/County Road 600 West.
(K) The area to the north along Yorktown-Gaston Pike/County Road 600 West to the intersection at State Road 332.
(8) The South Bend/Mishawaka/Elkhart deer reduction zone is the portion of St. Joseph County and Elkhart County south of the Michigan state line as follows:
(A) The area at the junction of U.S. Highway 31 and the Indiana/Michigan state line to the south along U.S. Highway 31 to the intersection at U.S. Highway 20.
(B) The area to the east along U.S. Highway 20/U.S. Highway 31 to the intersection at County Road 17.
(C) The area to the north along County Road 17 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the junction with the Indiana/Michigan state line.
(9) The Warsaw deer reduction zone is the portion of Kosciusko County as follows:
(A) The area at the intersection of State Road 15 and Levi Lee Road, extending east to the intersection of Levi Lee Road and County Road 100 East.
(B) The area to the south along County Road 100 East from the intersection at Levi Lee Road to the intersection at County Road 450 North.
(C) The area to the east along County Road 450 North from the intersection at County Road 100 East to the intersection at Chapman Lake Drive.
(D) The area to the south along Chapman Lake Drive from the intersection at County Road 450 North to the intersection at County Road 300 East.
(E) The area to the south along County Road 300 East from the intersection at Chapman Lake Road to the intersection at Old U.S. Highway 30/E. Old Road 30.
(F) The area to the east on Old U.S. Highway 30/E. Old Road 30 from the intersection at County Road 300 East to the intersection at County Road 450 East.
(G) The area to the south along County Road 450 East from the intersection at Old U.S. Highway 30/E. Old Road 30 to the intersection at U.S. Highway 30.
(H) The area to the east on U.S. Highway 30 from the intersection at County Road 450 East to the intersection at Van Ness Road.
(I) The area to the south along Van Ness Road from the intersection at U.S. Highway 30 to the intersection at Wooster Road.
(J) The area to the west along Wooster Road from the intersection at Van Ness Road to the intersection at County Road 500 East.
(K) The area to the south along County Road 500 East from the intersection at Wooster Road to the intersection at County Road 350 South.
(L) The area to the west along County Road 350 South from the intersection at County Road 500 East to the intersection at County Road 450 East.
(M) The area to the south along County Road 450 East from the intersection at County Road 350 South to the intersection at County Road 400 South.
(N) The area to the west along County Road 400 South from the intersection at County Road 450 East to the intersection at State Road 15.
(O) The area to the north along State Road 15 from the intersection at County Road 400 South to the intersection at County Road 350 South.
(P) The area to the west along County Road 350 South from the intersection at State Road 15 to the intersection at County Road 450 West.
(Q) The area to the north along County Road 450 West from the intersection at County Road 350 South to the intersection at County Road 400 West.
(R) The area to the north along County Road 400 West from the intersection at County Road 450 West to the intersection at Crystal Lake Road.
(S) The area to the east along Crystal Lake Road from the intersection at County Road 400 West to the intersection at Zimmer Road.
(T) The area to the north along Zimmer Road from the intersection at Crystal Lake Road to the intersection at Lincoln Highway/Old U.S. Highway 30.
(U) The area to the west along Lincoln Highway/Old U.S. Highway 30 from the intersection at Zimmer Road to the intersection at County Road 350 West.
(V) The area to the north along County Road 350 West from the intersection at Lincoln Highway/Old U.S. Highway 30 to the intersection at U.S. Highway 30.
(W) The area to the east along U.S. Highway 30 from the intersection at County Road 350 West to the intersection at County Road 150 West/Silveus Crossing.
(X) The area to the north along County Road 150 West/Silveus Crossing from the intersection at U.S. Highway 30 to the intersection at County Road 400 North.
(Y) The area to the east along County Road 400 North from the intersection at County Road 150 West/Silveus Crossing to the intersection at State Road 15.
(Z) The area to the north along State Road 15 from the intersection at County Road 400 North to the intersection at Levi Lee Road.
(10) The Allen County deer reduction zone is the portion of Allen County as follows:
(A) The area between Interstate 69 and Interstate 469.
(B) The area to the west of Interstate 69 that extends north of Lafayette Center Road and south of State Road 14.
(C) The area west of Interstate 69 to the:
(i) north of U.S. Highway 30;
(ii) east of O Day Road to the intersection at State Road 33;
(iii) south of State Road 33 to the intersection at Johnson Road;
(iv) east of Johnson Road north to the intersection at West Shoaff Road;
(v) south of West Shoaff Road east to the intersection at State Road 3; and
(vi) east of State Road 3 north to the junction with the DeKalb County line.
(D) The area to the east of Interstate 69, to the north of Interstate 469, to the west of the St. Joseph River, and to the south of Schlatter Road.
(11) The Cordry-Sweetwater deer reduction zone is the portion of Brown County contained within the Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District.
(12) The Brown County deer reduction zone is the portion of Brown County as follows:
(A) The area not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of State Road 46 from the Monroe County line to the Bartholomew County line.
(B) The area of Monroe Lake located not more than one-half (1/2) mile from the centerline of State Road 46.
(C) The area that is the management units of Yellowwood State Forest contained within the following tracts:
(i) Compartment 2, Tracts 2 and 40.
(ii) Compartment 3, Tracts 1 and 2.
(iii) Compartment 4, Tract 2.
(iv) Compartment 5, Tracts 5, 9, 10, 11, and 15.
(v) Compartment 8, Tract 27.
(vi) Compartment 9, Tract 1.
The Brown County deer reduction zone does not include any portion of Brown County State Park.
(13) The Dearborn County deer reduction zone is the portion of Dearborn County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of the following road segments:
(A) The area of U.S. 50 from the Dearborn/Ripley County line east to the Indiana state line.
(B) The area of State Road 148 from the intersection at State Road 48, extending south to the intersection at U.S. 50.
(C) The area of State Road 48 from the intersection at State Road 148, extending south to the intersection at U.S. 50.
(14) The DeKalb County deer reduction zone is the portion of DeKalb County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of Interstate 69 from the DeKalb/Steuben County line south to the DeKalb/Allen County line.
(15) The Fulton County deer reduction zone is a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of U.S. Highway 31 from the Fulton/Marshall County line to the south to the intersection at State Road 14.
(16) The LaGrange County deer reduction zone is a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of the following road segments:
(A) The area of U.S. Highway 20 from the intersection at State Road 9 to the east to the LaGrange/Steuben County line.
(B) The area of State Road 9 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the south to the LaGrange/Noble County line.
(C) The area of State Road 3 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the south to the LaGrange/Noble County line.
(17) The Lake County deer reduction zone is the portion of Lake County as follows:
(A) The area from north of the junction of the Indiana state line and 151st Avenue.
(B) The area from 151st Avenue east to the intersection at U.S. Highway 41.
(C) The area from U.S. Highway 41 south to the intersection at State Road 2.
(D) The area from State Road 2 east to the intersection at Interstate 65.
(E) The area from Interstate 65 north to the intersection at 145th Avenue.
(F) The area from 145th Avenue east to the intersection at U.S. Highway 231.
(G) The area from U.S. Highway 231 south to the junction with the Porter County line.
(18) The Madison County deer reduction zone is the portion of Madison County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of Interstate 69 from the Madison/Hamilton County line east to the Madison/Delaware County line.
(19) The Griffy Lake Nature Preserve deer reduction zone is the portion of Monroe County contained in the Griffy Lake Nature Preserve.
(20) The Monroe County deer reduction zone is the portion of Monroe County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of State Road 37 from the Interstate 69 split south to the junction with the Monroe/Lawrence County line.
(21) The Steuben County deer reduction zone is the portion of Steuben County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of the following road segments:
(A) The area of Interstate 69 from the Indiana state line south to the junction with the Steuben/DeKalb County line.
(B) The area of Interstate 80/90 Toll Road from the Steuben/LaGrange County line east to the intersection at Interstate 69.
(C) The area of U.S. Highway 20 from the Steuben/LaGrange County line east to the intersection at Interstate 69.
(22) The Wabash County deer reduction zone is the portion of Wabash County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (1/2) mile on either side of the centerline of State Road 114 from the junction with the Wabash/Fulton County line east to the intersection at State Road 13.
(23) The Warrick County deer reduction zone is the portion of Warrick County extending south of State Road 62 from the junction with the Warrick/Vanderburgh County line, then to the intersection at State Road 61 as follows:
(A) The area to the south along State Road 61 to the intersection at State Road 66.
(B) The area to the west along State Road 66 to the intersection at the French Island Trail.
(C) The area to the west along the French Island Trail to the intersection at Jennings Street.
(D) The area to the west along Jennings Street to the intersection at Old State Road 662.
(E) The area to the west along Old State Road 662 to the intersection at State Road 662.
(F) The area to the west along State Road 662 to the junction with the Warrick/Vanderburgh County line.
(24) The deer reduction zones in central Indiana are as follows:
(A) Marion County.
(B) The area in Johnson County to the south from the Marion County line as follows:
(i) The area to the west of Interstate 65 and south to the intersection of Interstate 65 and Whiteland Road.
(ii) The area to the west along Whiteland Road to the intersection at State Road 144.
(iii) The area to the west along State Road 144 to the intersection at State Road 37.
(iv) The area to the south along State Road 37 to the junction with the Johnson/Morgan County line.
(C) The area in Morgan County to the north of the junction of State Road 37 and the Morgan/Johnson County line as follows:
(i) The area to the west of State Road 37 South to the intersection of State Road 37 and State Road 39/Morton Avenue.
(ii) The area to the north along State Road 39/Morton Avenue from the intersection at State Road 37 to the intersection at State Road 67.
(iii) The area to the north along State Road 67 from the intersection at State Road 39 to the intersection at Indiana Street/State Road 267.
(iv) The area to the north along Indiana Street/State Road 267 from the intersection at State Road 67 to the intersection at State Road 42/High Street.
(v) The area to the west along State Road 42/High Street from the intersection at Indiana Street/State Road 267 to the intersection at State Road 267.
(vi) The area to the north along State Road 267 to the junction with the Morgan/Hendricks County line.
(D) The area in Hendricks County to the east of State Road 267 from the Morgan County line north to the Boone County line.
(E) The area in Boone County to the east of State Road 267 from the Hendricks County line north to the intersection at Interstate 65 as follows:
(i) The area from Interstate 65 south to the intersection at State Road 334.
(ii) The area to the east to the intersection at Ford Road/County Road 975 East/Pleasantview Road.
(iii) The area to the north to the intersection at County Road 300 South.
(iv) The area from County Road 300 South east to the junction with the Hamilton County line.
(F) The area in Hamilton County to the south of State Road 32 from the Boone County line east to the junction with U.S. Highway 31 as follows:
(i) The area to the north along U.S. Highway 31 to the intersection at 236th Street.
(ii) The area to the east along 236thStreet to the intersection at State Road 19.
(iii) The area to the south along State Road 19 to the intersection at State Road 32.
(iv) The area to the east along State Road 32 to the junction with the Madison County line.
(f) The firearms deer season begins the first Saturday after November 11 and ends after an additional fifteen (15) days. An individual may take not more than one (1) antlered deer under this subsection with a firearms license.
(g) The deer hunting season to use a muzzleloading long gun or muzzleloading handgun begins the first Saturday after the closing day of the firearms season under subsection (f) and ends after an additional fifteen (15) days. An individual may take not more than the number of deer authorized by section 2 of this rule [sic, 312 IAC 9-3-2] under this subsection.
(h) The bag limit by county to take an antlerless deer is as follows:
(1) Two (2) deer in Adams County.
(2) Two (2) deer in Allen County.
(3) Two (2) [sic, deer] in Bartholomew County.
(4) Two (2) deer in Benton County.
(5) Two (2) deer in Blackford County.
(6) Three (3) deer in Boone County.
(7) Four (4) deer in Brown County.
(8) Three (3) deer in Carroll County.
(9) Three (3) deer in Cass County.
(10) Three (3) deer in Clark County.
(11) Three (3) deer in Clay County.
(12) Three (3) deer in Clinton County.
(13) Four (4) deer in Crawford County.
(14) Three (3) deer in Daviess County.
(15) Four (4) deer in Dearborn County.
(16) Two (2) deer in Decatur County.
(17) Three (3) deer in DeKalb County.
(18) Three (3) deer in Delaware County.
(19) Three (3) deer in Dubois County.
(20) Three (3) deer in Elkhart County.
(21) In Fayette County:
(A) one (1) deer beginning October 1, 2024; and
(B) two (2) deer beginning October 1, 2025.
(22) Four (4) deer in Floyd County.
(23) Three (3) deer in Fountain County.
(24) In Franklin County:
(A) one (1) deer beginning October 1, 2024; and
(B) two (2) deer beginning October 1, 2025.
(25) Three (3) deer in Fulton County.
(26) Three (3) deer in Gibson County.
(27) Three (3) deer in Grant County.
(28) Three (3) deer in Greene County.
(29) Three (3) deer in Hamilton County.
(30) Two (2) deer in Hancock County.
(31) Four (4) deer in Harrison County.
(32) Three (3) deer in Hendricks County.
(33) Three (3) deer in Henry County.
(34) Three (3) deer in Howard County.
(35) Three (3) deer in Huntington County.
(36) Three (3) deer in Jackson County.
(37) Three (3) deer in Jasper County.
(38) Two (2) deer in Jay County.
(39) Three (3) deer in Jefferson County.
(40) Two (2) deer in Jennings County.
(41) Three (3) deer in Johnson County.
(42) Three (3) deer in Knox County.
(43) Three (3) deer in Kosciusko County.
(44) Three (3) deer in LaGrange County.
(45) Three (3) deer in Lake County.
(46) Three (3) deer in LaPorte County.
(47) Four (4) deer in Lawrence County.
(48) Three (3) deer in Madison County.
(49) Three (3) deer in Marion County.
(50) Three (3) deer in Marshall County.
(51) Two (2) deer in Martin County.
(52) Three (3) deer in Miami County.
(53) Four (4) deer in Monroe County.
(54) Three (3) deer in Montgomery County.
(55) Four (4) deer in Morgan County.
(56) Three (3) deer in Newton County.
(57) Three (3) deer in Noble County.
(58) Three (3) deer in Ohio County.
(59) Four (4) deer in Orange County.
(60) Four (4) deer in Owen County.
(61) Three (3) deer in Parke County.
(62) Four (4) deer in Perry County.
(63) Three (3) deer in Pike County.
(64) Two (2) deer in Porter County.
(65) Three (3) deer in Posey County.
(66) Three (3) deer in Pulaski County.
(67) Three (3) deer in Putnam County.
(68) Two (2) deer in Randolph County.
(69) Four (4) deer in Ripley County.
(70) Two (2) deer in Rush County.
(71) Three (3) deer in St. Joseph County.
(72) Three (3) deer in Scott County.
(73) Two (2) deer in Shelby County.
(74) Three (3) deer in Spencer County.
(75) Three (3) deer in Starke County.
(76) Two (2) deer in Steuben County.
(77) Three (3) deer in Sullivan County.
(78) Two (2) deer in Switzerland County.
(79) Three (3) deer in Tippecanoe County.
(80) Two (2) deer in Tipton County.
(81) Three (3) deer in Union County.
(82) Three (3) deer in Vanderburgh County.
(83) Three (3) deer in Vermillion County.
(84) Three (3) deer in Vigo County.
(85) Two (2) deer in Wabash County.
(86) Three (3) deer in Warren County.
(87) Three (3) deer in Warrick County.
(88) Four (4) deer in Washington County.
(89) Three (3) deer in Wayne County.
(90) Two (2) deer in Wells County.
(91) Three (3) deer in White County.
(92) Three (3) deer in Whitley County.
SECTION 2. This rule expires April 7, 2026.
Filed with Publisher: October 9, 2025, 11:28 a.m.
Indiana Register 20260715-IR-312260102IFA LSA Document 260102
TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Interim Final Rule
LSA Document #26-102
DIGEST
BOBCAT HUNTING
Temporarily supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-18.1 concerning bobcat hunting and increasing the statewide quota for bobcats. Effective July 7, 2026. Expires July 7, 2027.
HISTORY
Governor's Approval: 20260422-IR-312260102GAA
Notice of Public Comment Period for Interim Rule: 20260422-IR-312260102INA
Regulatory Analysis submitted with Notice of Public Comment Period for Interim Rule: 20260422-IR-312260102RAA
SUMMARY/RESPONSE TO COMMENTS
The Natural Resources Commission (commission), in coordination with the Department of Natural Resources (department), requested public comment on the proposed interim rule from April 22, 2026, through May 22, 2026. The comments received and the responses to the comments by the commission, in coordination with the department, are summarized as follows:
Response to Comments
In 2025, Indiana had its first bobcat season, with a limited initial harvest that ran smoothly. Indiana DNR, as required by state law in Senate Enrolled Act 241-2024, established a season in 2025 that allowed for the trapping of bobcats in 40 southern Indiana counties, with a season quota of 250 bobcats and a limit of one bobcat per trapper. The initial limited season for bobcat harvest was designed to best support a healthy bobcat population while gathering additional data, following the model for the launch of seasons for river otters and wild turkey. The season started on Nov. 8, 2025, and was scheduled to run through Jan. 31, 2026, or until the statewide quota was reached. The quota was reached on Dec. 6, 2025, and the season was closed. The season ran smoothly and provided a conservative introduction of bobcat harvest in Indiana. Hoosiers continue to experience losses on their property and vehicles from Indiana's rising bobcat population. Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky, and Wisconsin currently have seasons to take bobcats via both hunting and trapping, and these states continue to have a self-sustaining population of bobcats.
The number of landowners requesting a permit to take bobcats that are killing livestock increased from 14 in 2018 to 34 in 2025, an increase of more than 140% in negative human-bobcat interactions reported over seven years. While a person can get a free permit to take a bobcat that is causing damage, landowners frequently incur losses prior to obtaining a permit and may not be able to take the bobcat as quickly as needed when the damage is being done. Indiana is also seeing an increase in accidental bobcat vehicle collisions.
The DNR has received requests from hunters to have the opportunity to take bobcat, and hunting methods have been included in the rule proposal. The hunting equipment allowed in the proposed rule is in line with equipment allowed for other furbearers such as foxes, coyotes, beavers, etc. The hunting tool limitations proposed (i.e., no dogs, daytime hunting hours limiting night vision and thermal) are intended to start with a conservative hunting season. Hunting hours are consistent with other species like white-tailed deer and wild turkey and consistent with neighboring states like Kentucky and Michigan that do not allow night hunting for bobcats.
The department is proposing the season dates beginning November 8 and ending January 31 of the following year to coincide with taking seasons for other species, since the raccoon, opossum, coyote, fox, and skunk trapping seasons are open during those dates. This allows trappers to set traps for a bobcat at the same time and keep a bobcat that may be inadvertently captured in a trap set for a coyote or fox. Furthermore, bobcat young are expected to have dispersed or, at least, not be dependent upon their mothers during the proposed season dates.
The department is not proposing to change the counties open for bobcat harvest. This rule would allow hunting and trapping only in those counties where there is a healthy, reproductive population with high quality habitats capable of supporting a bobcat population. There are counties that have suitable habitats, but fewer documented bobcats. The department considers the counties to have emerging bobcat populations; therefore, the department is not proposing to open additional counties at this time.
Regarding the bobcat population, Purdue University researchers developed a population model for department staff to utilize. This population model allowed the department to propose harvest levels that will be sustainable. The population model incorporates the basic aspects of bobcat life history and simulates bobcat population dynamics in Indiana. The population model is conservative and assumes adult female bobcats do not raise young in habitats less than nine (9) square miles. The population model also assumes existing mortality sources remain at the same level, and harvest mortality is added to those mortalities. Some concern has been raised that in the published literature “exploited” bobcat populations, meaning those with harvest seasons, have lower adult survival rates and that our model does not account for that. While states with harvest seasons do have lower adult bobcat survival, our model accounts for this change by assuming that any mortality from harvest is in addition to existing mortalities. Most of the literature of states open to harvest are populations that have long harvest seasons with no bag limits, like Texas and the Dakotas. Indiana's season is more conservative and therefore would not see the same drop in survival as populations with year-round harvest with no bag limits. Indiana does not estimate its bobcat population (or other populations like that of deer and wild turkeys), so the DNR does not believe the population is 1,000 bobcats. Citation of this number by the public is a misunderstanding of a modeling technique paper that used a threshold of 1,000 adult breeding females to test a new model technique. It is not an estimate of Indiana's bobcat population.
Purdue University determined bobcat habitat selection and home range size from the bobcats that were collared and tracked by department staff in the late 1990's and early 2000's. Collaring occurred in southern Indiana, primarily Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, and Martin counties. From this research, multiple aspects of bobcat life history were collected, including information about survival and mortality. The information was summarized in an American Midland Naturalist publication in 2020.
Roadkill was the number one (1) cause of death for bobcats collared for research with one (1) in every two (2) bobcats killed by being hit by a car, or fifty-three percent (53%). Survival by age class was another factor included in the population model. Bobcats in Indiana preferred forest edges and somewhat avoided agriculture when selecting habitats. Adult, female bobcats need approximately nine (9) square miles to successfully raise their young, while males overlapped with multiple females and had much larger home ranges. For the population model, female home ranges formed the foundation as males don't help rear young. Male bobcats are not monogamous and do not pair with one (1) female bobcat mate or help raise the young.
From this habitat and home range research, Purdue University made a map of the available bobcat habitats, then overlaid nine (9) square mile blocks onto the habitat; see Figure 1. Figure 1 shows the calculation of the areas that are suitable for an adult, female bobcat to find nine (9) square miles to successfully raise their young and is a conservative estimate of bobcat habitats. Figure 1 conservatively assumes that anywhere that does not provide nine (9) square miles of habitat is not suitable bobcat habitat. This estimate is calculated based on adult female bobcat needs. However, young bobcats will disperse through other habitats and live in the habitats while waiting for territories to be available. Adult female bobcats will also live in habitats that are less than ideal to raise their young when required to do so. This system is a binary yes or no regarding whether a block is suitable for a bobcat and does not account for the possibility of larger or smaller home ranges, male home range needs, or dispersing bobcats. The dark green squares represent quality habitats of blocks of nine (9) square miles with habitats suitable for adult female bobcats to raise their young. This formed the base of the population model that was developed by Purdue University. Public reports are not incorporated into the population model.
Figure 1
Regarding the quota, a bobcat trapping season quota of four hundred (400) bobcats was calculated using the population model established by Purdue University, the habitat availability, the number of complaints the state has received, and the fact that the 2025 bobcat trapping season closed in 28 days in 2025. Using this model, the department can simulate different levels of harvest to assess likely effects on the bobcat population. A quota of 400 in the listed counties is designed to reduce the bobcat population to reduce damage for Indiana residents while still maintaining bobcat populations.
In sensitivity testing completed by researchers (in publication), kitten survival has an important influence on bobcat populations, but kitten survival estimates are difficult to calculate and have not been estimated in Indiana. So DNR staff model three levels of kitten survival, from 25% (.25, 2.5 of every 10) of kittens surviving to 35% (.35, 3.5 of every 10), but the standard is that 30% of kittens, or three of every 10 kittens born, survive.
Regarding the use of traps, the department is not proposing any changes to the types of traps used to take a bobcat. These traps have been tested and shown to be humane for trapping bobcats under the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' Furbearer Management Best Management Practices for Trapping Program (BMPs). This program ensures that trapping devices and techniques used are the most humane, safe, selective, efficient and practical devices. Traps are evaluated using standards and protocols developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Trapping is highly selective based on the size and placement of the trap, in addition to the lure used. The type of traps permitted for bobcat trapping are and already allowed under Indiana law for other wild animals such as river otters, coyotes, and raccoons.
State law in IC 14-22-6-17 requires the DNR to have a season to take a bobcat. State law in IC 14-22-2-6 allows administrative rules to be adopted only after thorough investigation; and based upon data relative to the following: (A) The welfare of the wild animal; (B) The relationship of the wild animal to other animals; and (C) The welfare of the people.
The department received several comments outside the scope of this rule. Currently, the department is only moving forward with the proposed rule as written in the rule package.
INTERIM FINAL RULE
SECTION 1. (a) This SECTION supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-18.1.
(b) An individual may take a bobcat (Lynx rufus):
(1) by trapping or hunting beginning November 8; and
(2) ending:
(A) January of the following calendar year; or
(B) the date on which the statewide quota under subsection (k) is reached;
whichever is earlier.
(c) Except as provided under IC 14-22-11-1, an individual may not take a bobcat unless the individual possesses at least one (1) of the following licenses:
(1) A resident license to take a bobcat under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(36).
(2) A nonresident youth license to take a bobcat under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(37).
(3) A resident youth consolidated license to hunt and trap under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(24) or IC 14-22-11-10(b), including an apprentice license.
(4) A nonresident license to take a bobcat under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(38).
(5) A lifetime basic trapping license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(6) before its repeal.
(6) A lifetime comprehensive hunting license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(4) before its repeal.
(7) A lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(5) before its repeal.
(d) In addition to a license described in subsection (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(4), an individual must have at least one (1) of the following licenses:
(1) To trap a bobcat, one (1) of the following:
(A) A resident yearly trapping license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(4).
(B) A nonresident yearly trapping license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(7).
(C) A nonresident youth yearly trapping license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(26).
(2) To hunt a bobcat, one (1) of the following:
(A) A resident yearly hunting license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(2).
(B) A resident yearly hunting and fishing license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(3).
(C) A nonresident yearly hunting license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(6).
(D) A nonresident five (5) day hunting license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(10).
(E) A nonresident youth yearly hunting license under IC 14-22-12-1(a)(25).
(F) A disabled American veteran hunting license under IC 14-22-12-1.5.
(G) An apprentice hunting license of the types identified under IC 14-22-12-1.7(a) through IC 14-22-12-1.7(f).
(H) A lifetime basic hunting license under IC 14-22-12-7(a)(2) before its repeal.
(e) An individual may not take more than one (1) bobcat in the season.
(f) An individual who captures a bobcat alive and does not include it in the bag limit for the individual under subsection (e) shall release the bobcat into the wild in the location where the bobcat is captured immediately after discovering the bobcat.
(g) An individual may take a bobcat in the following counties:
(1) Bartholomew County.
(2) Brown County.
(3) Clark County.
(4) Clay County.
(5) Crawford County.
(6) Daviess County.
(7) Dearborn County.
(8) Dubois County.
(9) Floyd County.
(10) Franklin County.
(11) Gibson County.
(12) Greene County.
(13) Harrison County.
(14) Jackson County.
(15) Jefferson County.
(16) Jennings County.
(17) Johnson County.
(18) Knox County.
(19) Lawrence County.
(20) Martin County.
(21) Monroe County.
(22) Morgan County.
(23) Ohio County.
(24) Orange County.
(25) Owen County.
(26) Parke County.
(27) Perry County.
(28) Pike County.
(29) Posey County.
(30) Putnam County.
(31) Ripley County.
(32) Scott County.
(33) Spencer County.
(34) Sullivan County.
(35) Switzerland County.
(36) Vanderburgh County.
(37) Vermillion County.
(38) Vigo County.
(39) Warrick County.
(40) Washington County.
(h) An individual may trap a bobcat with a:
(1) cage trap;
(2) foothold trap permitted under 312 IAC 9-3-18; or
(3) snare permitted under 312 IAC 9-3-18 with a relaxing snare lock.
(i) An individual may hunt a bobcat with the following equipment:
(1) A bow and arrow.
(2) A crossbow.
(3) A shotgun.
(4) A handgun.
(5) A muzzleloading long gun or muzzleloading handgun.
(6) A rifle.
(7) An air gun with a minimum caliber of at least one hundred and seventy-seven thousandths (0.177) of an inch.
(j) An individual may hunt a bobcat beginning one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise and ending one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.
(k) The statewide quota for the season to take a bobcat is four hundred (400) bobcats. The department shall track the statewide quota for taking bobcats on the website of the department.
(l) An individual who takes a bobcat shall:
(1) report the taking; or
(2) ensure the taking is reported;
by registering the bobcat with the electronic harvest reporting system of the department not later than twenty-four (24) hours after taking the bobcat. An individual reporting a take under this subsection shall provide accurate information to the department. An individual shall keep the confirmation number provided by the electronic harvest reporting system of the department with the bobcat until the individual checks in the bobcat with a designated department employee or at an official bobcat checking station under subsection (m).
(m) An individual who takes a bobcat during the season to take a bobcat shall possess the bobcat and show the skinned hide of the bobcat to a designated department employee or an official bobcat checking station not later than fifteen (15) days after the calendar month in which the bobcat is harvested. A department employee shall issue a tag to the individual.
(n) A bobcat, including the hide and any other part of the bobcat, taken during the season to take a bobcat may not be:
(1) sold;
(2) traded;
(3) bartered;
(4) gifted;
(5) transferred to a taxidermist or any other person; or
(6) shipped;
until the bobcat is registered with the electronic harvest system for the department and issued a tag by a department employee under subsection (m).
(o) After registering a bobcat and obtaining a tag from the department under this rule, an individual who takes a bobcat may:
(1) sell;
(2) trade;
(3) barter;
(4) ship; or
(5) otherwise transfer;
the hide of the bobcat under this rule.
(p) An individual may possess an untanned bobcat hide if the bobcat hide is lawfully obtained.
(q) An individual may not take a bobcat:
(1) after the individual bag limit under subsection (e) is reached;
(2) after the statewide quota for the season to take a bobcat is reached;
(3) after the season to take a bobcat ends; or
(4) in a county not listed under subsection (g).
This subsection does not apply to an individual who takes a bobcat under a scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6 or nuisance wild animal control permit under 312 IAC 9-10-11.
(r) An individual who takes a bobcat:
(1) during the season to take a bobcat after the individual bag limit under subsection (e) is reached;
(2) after the statewide quota is reached;
(3) in a county where the season to take a bobcat is not open;
(4) outside the season to take a bobcat; or
(5) without a license to take a bobcat under IC 14-22-12-1 or is exempt from the licensure requirement under IC 14-22-11-1;
shall notify the department not later than twenty-four (24) hours after taking the bobcat. The individual shall arrange to deliver the bobcat to the department.
(s) A person may not possess a live bobcat except as follows:
(1) With a wild animal rehabilitation permit under 312 IAC 9-10-9.
(2) With a scientific purposes license under 312 IAC 9-10-6.
(3) With a nuisance wild animal control permit under 312 IAC 9-10-11.
(4) With a wild animal possession permit under 312 IAC 9-11.
(5) By a registered or licensed person under IC 14-22-26-1.
(t) An individual may not sell a live bobcat unless the individual obtains a game breeder's license under 312 IAC 9-10-4.
(u) An individual may not take or chase a bobcat with the use or aid of a dog, except for an authorized federal and state wildlife management employee.
SECTION 2. This document expires three hundred sixty-five (365) days after the publisher accepts the Interim Final Rule for filing.
LSA Document #26-102
Filed with Publisher: July 7, 2026, 11:03 a.m.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: None Received by Publisher
Indiana Register 20260902-IR-312260202IFA LSA Document 260202
TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Interim Final Rule
LSA Document #26-202
DIGEST
DEER HUNTING
Temporarily supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-3 and 312 IAC 9-3-4 concerning deer hunting and increasing the antlerless bag limit in Fayette and Franklin counties. Effective August 24, 2026. Expires August 24, 2027.
HISTORY
Notice of Public Comment Period for Interim Rule: 20260701-IR-312260202INA
Regulatory Analysis submitted with Notice of Public Comment Period for Interim Rule: 20260701-IR-312260202RAA
SUMMARY/RESPONSE TO COMMENTS
The Natural Resources Commission (commission), in coordination with the Department of Natural Resources (department), requested public comment on the proposed interim rule from July 1, 2026, through July 31, 2026. The comments received and the responses to the comments by the commission, in coordination with the department, are summarized as follows:
Comments regarding 312 IAC 9-3-4 governing muzzleloaders
This rule change amends the rule to allow both the powder and primer to be loaded from the breech end of a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season; the bullet is still loaded from the muzzle. The changes result from a citizen petition to the commission to allow the use of these muzzleloaders. Most muzzleloaders on the market currently require that the bullet/sabot and powder be manually loaded through the muzzle, and the primer be loaded from the breech end. However, newer technology has been developed with a system that allows both the powder and primer to be safely loaded from the breech end, while the bullet is loaded from the muzzle. This allows the powder to stay dry, as well as help ensure a consistent and reliable source of powder. Because the powder is protected inside a vessel, it could also increase the number of days an individual can hunt, because they are not affected by rainy conditions. The encapsulated powder charge is a factory-manufactured, precision-measured plastic vessel that contains a pre-measured quantity of black powder substitute. This option still only allows one (1) bullet/sabot to be fired at a time, and the powder, primer, and bullet must be re-loaded to fire another shot. This change would allow additional types of muzzleloaders to be used during the muzzleloader season under 312 IAC 9-3-4. Muzzleloaders with this system do not increase the range that many other fifty (50) caliber in-line muzzleloaders are currently capable of shooting already in Indiana. Additionally, this muzzleloader is currently already permitted during the special youth deer season, firearms season, and reduction zone season when firearms are allowed to be used under 312 IAC 9-3-3. The DNR understands that this muzzleloader system is considered to be less primitive, which some believe to be the intent of the muzzleloader season. However, "in-line" muzzleloaders are already allowed during the muzzleloader season, which are less primitive than the traditional flintlock or percussion muzzleloaders. All muzzleloaders considered for use during the muzzleloader season fire only one (1) sabot/ball at a time before needing to be reloaded, but the more primitive muzzleloaders require both the powder and bullet to be loaded from the muzzle and don't have the same effectiveness at a longer distance. The DNR included questions about this equipment in the 2024-25 Indiana Deer Management Survey that was distributed in 2025. Some who responded to the survey mentioned that these breech-loading muzzleloaders might improve safety during loading and unloading. There were ten thousand nine hundred ten (10,910) individuals who responded to the survey who indicated they hunt with a muzzleloader presently. Of those who indicated they hunt with a muzzleloader presently, fifty percent (50%) indicated that it would not change their behavior, twenty-eight percent (28%) indicated that they would be unlikely to use the equipment, and twenty-two percent (22%) indicated they would likely use the equipment. By allowing the use of the new muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season, it could increase sales of this equipment for those who want to participate in this season and do not currently have a muzzleloader. The DNR also does not have any concerns regarding the deer population by allowing this muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season, and there are no additional safety concerns regarding the equipment.
Comments regarding 312 IAC 9-3-4 governing deer antlerless quotas for Fayette and Franklin counties
The DNR is increasing the county antlerless bag limits for Fayette and Franklin counties as the result of the deer population recovering from previous impact from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). In 2023, the department began receiving reports of deer found dead in Fayette and Franklin Counties. Since it has been two (2) years since this major outbreak, the DNR is increasing the antlerless quotas in Fayette and Franklin Counties to a number that will help manage the population and give hunters more opportunities to take deer. EHD is transmitted by biting midges (genus Culicoides), known as "no-see-ums," or gnats that breed and live in small pools of standing water. EHD is not known to spread to humans; however, symptoms of the disease in deer may include reduced appetite, weakness, loss of fear of humans, circling, as well as other neurological signs. Deer that die from EHD may have swollen tongues, eyelids, necks, or heads. EHD is often fatal, but some deer survive and develop immunity. EHD is diagnosed by a qualified laboratory using blood or internal tissues. EHD occurs naturally in the deer population and affects small numbers of deer each year. EHD is not normally found in domestic animals, other than farmed white-tailed deer, but antibodies have been detected in sheep, pigs, and cattle. After the insect population is reduced by cold weather in the fall, the spread of the disease reduces. Therefore, one should expect new infections to stop shortly after the first hard freeze in the fall. However, hot, dry weather with little rain, often characterized by prolonged summer conditions extending into the fall, may increase the occurrence and duration of an EHD outbreak. As usual water sources become scarce, more deer use any water that is available. As deer gather around these limited water sources, more deer in the population may become exposed to infected biting midges, which spread the disease between deer via bites. Large deer populations can further exacerbate an outbreak as more deer frequent the same watering holes.
In 2023, the department received nine hundred and eighty-one (981) verified reports of potential EHD cases involving 1,016 sick or dead deer observed. Two hundred ninety-four (294) of these reports originated in the western half of Franklin County and forty-six (46) reports originated from the southern portion of Fayette County. The department expects counties to have a number of EHD reports each year. Reports can be spread across the county or can be limited to small areas where an intense, but localized outbreak occurred. Please see the indicators below for the deer population in these two counties.
Indicators used for Franklin County
• Harvest
• The 2025 harvest in Franklin County of 2,120 was also only slightly below the 5-year average of 2,504 deer prior to the EHD outbreak.
• From the Deer Management Survey about the 2025 deer season:
• Hunter success rates are within normal ranges for Franklin County for the years prior to the EHD event.
• The harvest effort for both bucks and does is similar to the year prior to the EHD event, although doe harvest required more effort than years prior to 2021.
• Hunter opinion of management of Franklin County is at pre-EHD levels.
• Both hunter and non-hunter satisfaction with the current deer management strategy is similar to past years.
• Hunter opinion of the deer population level is only slightly below the years prior to the EHD event, but is trending toward a favorable opinion.
• Deer Vehicle Collisions
• Deer vehicle collisions are relatively low in Franklin County and this has remained unchanged.
Indicators used for Fayette County
• Harvest
• Harvest has trended upward in Fayette County until the 2025 harvest of 836 was slightly below normal compared to the 5-year average prior to the EHD outbreak of 916 deer.
• From the Deer Management Survey about the 2025 deer season.
• Hunter success rates are within normal ranges for Fayette County for the years prior to the EHD event.
• The harvest effort for bucks was similar to the year prior to the EHD event. The harvest effort for does is harder than for previous years but is trending toward being similar to prior year.
• Hunter opinion of management in Fayette County is at pre-EHD levels.
• Both hunter and non-hunter satisfaction with the current deer management strategy is similar to past years.
• Hunter opinion of the deer population level is only slightly below the years prior to the EHD event and is trending toward a favorable opinion.
• Deer Vehicle Collisions
• Deer vehicle collisions are normally low in Fayette County, but there was a slight dip during the EHD year and these have reached normal, pre-EHD levels.
Along with the Purdue research, DNR staff also are working with scientists from Michigan State University who have experience studying disease outbreaks due to EHD. These scientists are working with local landowners in Franklin and Fayette counties to research and monitor recovery from EHD. While their data from each of their field season are not yet available, they have seen a substantial recovery between fall 2022 (the year the EHD event happened) and the fall of 2024.
The Indiana DNR Division of Fish, Wildlife, & Nature Preserves does not use information or take input from insurance companies on deer management. But public safety regarding deer vehicle collisions is a consideration because the goal is to focus deer herd management in a strategically targeted manner to more adequately balance ecological, recreational, and economic needs of the citizens of Indiana produce sustainable deer populations into the future for the citizens of Indiana while balancing the needs. This includes consideration of the damage that deer cause as well as the needs of hunters. Allowing a population to grow rapidly to a point past carrying capacity while minimizing legal harvest will cause additional deer to be hit by vehicles that would have otherwise been utilized as food by hunters and their families. Please note that the goal is to focus deer herd management in a strategically targeted manner to more adequately balance ecological, recreational, and economic needs of the citizens of Indiana and have sustainable deer populations into the future for the citizens of Indiana while balancing the needs. By decreasing bag limits in response to a devastating disease event to allow populations to start to recover, and then slowly raising deer bag limits over time, the DNR more fully addresses all parts of this goal. Not raising bag limits until deer have fully recovered in all parts of Fayette and Franklin counties equally would cause deer populations in some parts of the county to increase above sustainable limits, increase deer vehicle collisions, and increase damage to native habitat and farms. Allowing hunters to slowly harvest more deer over time does cause the population growth to slow a bit but also affords hunters the opportunity begin harvesting does that feed families, minimize damage, and prevent deer from overshooting winter carrying capacities in parts of the county that have recovered. Based on 2025-2026 deer harvest records, less than two hundred (200) hunters harvested two (2) antlerless deer in Franklin County and fewer than 70 hunters took 2 antlerless deer in Fayette County.
Several randomly selected test plots in Franklin County and Fayette County have been monitored since the outbreak occurred in 2022. Post-harvest population estimates are made using crewed aircraft and infrared recordings of deer traveling along transects. The estimates do not reflect the recovery in each part of the county but rather provide an indicator of the average recovery for the county. Figure 1 shows that post-harvest deer populations in Franklin County and the southern portion of Fayette County have risen from approximately 11 deer per square mile to approximately 23 deer per square mile by the winter of 2025. While the 2026 data is not yet processed, the DNR staff estimate the population density would increase to approximately 30 deer per square mile by winter of 2026, placing these counties on track to reach the estimated post-harvest density of 35 deer per square mile (the post-harvest density of similar areas in southern Indiana). Please note that these are early estimates provided by the Purdue researchers working on the project. The final numbers will be published in the annual deer report for 2026.
In 2017, Indiana DNR began working on a project with Purdue University to develop cost-effective methods that could estimate deer density with the necessary precision to manage deer. The result was the application of distance sampling with game cameras and the use of flights using thermal cameras in planes to create spatial density maps of deer (Delisle et al. 2022, 2023a, and 2023b; https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/693144fd02db41209c39c21fdb62bbc6/page/Page ). The methods used were briefly discussed in the 2022 Indiana White-tailed Deer Annual Report (Caudell 2023) where these techniques were used to create an initial population estimates from the effect of the Fayette-Franklin EHD event. These methods were discussed in more detail in the 2023 issue (Caudell 2024), both of which are available on-line at: https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/wildlife-resources/animals/white-tailed-deer/deer-management-and-reports
Typically, the DNR only uses drones when flying over public land because of the concerns that private landowners have of governments using drones over private homes (Bajde et al. 2017). Currently, DNR works with Purdue to fly planes and record IR images along randomized transects after the hunting season has concluded throughout the state, and in targeted areas, such as those hit by EHD. These images are then processed and analyzed later where deer are counted, and then this data is used to estimate population densities in areas where deer were not counted. Unfortunately, because Purdue is still refining these techniques and processing the data for the entire state, there is a lag between when the data is collected, processed, and then made available to Indiana DNR. Therefore, DNR staff not only rely on the deer population data provided by Purdue, but also population trend indices, such as harvest, deer vehicle collisions, the annual deer management survey, archer's index, and published papers on the recovery of white-tailed deer populations from EHD events to make decisions regarding bag limits.
Therefore, with the information provided above and the length of time since the outbreak in Fayette and Franklin Counties, the department believes that the population has recovered to the point where additional antlerless deer can be harvested starting in 2026.
INTERIM RULE
SECTION 1. (a) This SECTION supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-3.
(b) During the youth special deer season established by 312 IAC 9-3-4, a youth hunter may hunt deer with the following equipment:
(1) A bow and arrow, as described in subsection (c)(1) through (c)(4).
(2) A crossbow, as defined in 312 IAC 9-1-5.3.
(3) A shotgun, as described in subsection (e)(1).
(4) A muzzleloading long gun, as described in subsection (e)(3).
(5) A rifle, with the use of a cartridge, as described in subsection (e)(4).
(6) An air gun, as defined in 312 IAC 9-1-1.2.
(c) During the archery season under 312 IAC 9-3-4, an individual may hunt deer with the following equipment:
(1) A long bow, recurve bow, or compound bow that has at least thirty-five (35) pounds pull, and a license to hunt deer under 312 IAC 9-3-2.
(2) A crossbow and a license to hunt deer under 312 IAC 9-3-2.
(3) An arrow or a bolt equipped with:
(A) a metal or metal-edged;
(B) a flint;
(C) a chert; or
(D) an obsidian-knapped;
broadhead.
(4) A long bow, recurve bow, or compound bow with:
(A) a track;
(B) a trough;
(C) a channel;
(D) an arrow rest; or
(E) any other device;
that attaches to the riser of the bow must not contact, support, or guide the arrow from a point rearward of the brace height of the bow. Use of a poisoned or an explosive arrow or bolt is unlawful.
(d) During the firearms season under 312 IAC 9-3-4, an individual may take deer with the following equipment:
(1) A shotgun.
(2) A shotgun with rifled barrel.
(3) A handgun.
(4) A muzzleloading long gun.
(5) A muzzleloading handgun.
(6) A rifle, with the use of a cartridge, as described in subsection (e)(4).
(7) An air gun, as defined in 312 IAC 9-1-1.2.
(e) As used in 312 IAC 9-3-2, 312 IAC 9-3-4, 312 IAC 9-3-8, and this SECTION, a firearm must meet the following specifications:
(1) A shotgun must have a bore of:
(A) 10 gauge;
(B) 12 gauge;
(C) 16 gauge;
(D) 20 gauge;
(E) 28 gauge; or
(F) .410 caliber;
loaded with a single projectile.
(2) A handgun must:
(A) conform to the requirements of IC 35-47-1-6;
(B) have a barrel at least four (4) inches long; and
(C) fire a bullet at least two hundred forty-three thousandths (.243) of an inch in diameter.
A handgun cartridge case, without a bullet, must be at least one and sixteen-hundredths (1.16) inches long. Use of a full metal jacketed bullet is unlawful. Use of .25-20 Winchester, .32-20 Winchester, .30 Carbine, or .38 Special ammunition is unlawful.
(3) A muzzleloading long gun must be at least .40 caliber, loaded with a bullet at least three hundred fifty-seven thousandths (.357) of an inch. A muzzleloading handgun must be single shot, at least .50 caliber, loaded with a bullet at least .44 caliber, and have a barrel at least twelve (12) inches long. The length of a muzzleloading handgun barrel is determined by measuring from the base of the breech plug to the end of the barrel, including the muzzle crown, excluding a tang or another projection. A muzzleloading gun must be capable of loading a bullet only from the muzzle.
(4) A rifle must fire a cartridge that meets the specifications under IC 14-22-2-8.
(f) During the muzzleloader season under 312 IAC 9-3-4, an individual may take deer with a:
(1) muzzleloading long gun, as described in subsection (e)(3); or
(2) muzzleloading handgun, as described in subsection (e)(3).
(g) During the deer reduction season established in 312 IAC 9-3-4, an individual may take deer with a:
(1) bow and arrow or crossbow and bolt, as described in subsection (c), beginning September 15 and ending January 31; or
(2) firearm described in subsection (d) or (e), beginning the first Saturday after November 11 and ending January 31.
(h) An individual may not erect, place, or hunt from a permanent tree or ground blind on land owned or leased by the state. An individual may erect, place, or hunt from a temporary tree or ground blind that may be left overnight and placed on a:
(1) department property, as defined at 312 IAC 8-1.5-6;
(2) U.S. Forest Service land; or
(3) national wildlife refuge;
beginning at noon September 15 and ending January 10, or beginning at noon September 1 and ending February 8, on a department property within a deer reduction zone under 312 IAC 9-3-4. An individual may not use a fastener with a tree blind and a tree or pole climber that penetrates a tree more than one-half (½) inch. A tree or ground blind must be legibly marked with the name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the tree or ground blind in the English language, or the customer identification number issued to the owner by the department.
(i) An individual may not use an infrared sensor to aid in taking a deer.
(j) An individual may not use an electronic deer call while hunting deer.
SECTION 2. (a) This SECTION supersedes 312 IAC 9-3-4.
(b) Except as provided in 312 IAC 9-3-2, an individual may take not more than one (1) deer with a license to hunt a deer.
(c) The special youth deer season is two (2) consecutive days beginning the Saturday immediately before October 1, or as approved annually by the director as follows:
(1) The seasonal limit for taking deer under this subsection is one (1) antlered deer, and the number of antlerless deer under this SECTION or subsection (h). A youth hunter may take not more than one (1) antlerless deer under this subsection on the following properties operated by the department:
(A) A property operated by the division of fish and wildlife.
(B) Salamonie Lake.
(C) Mississinewa Lake.
(D) Patoka Lake.
(2) A youth hunter who takes an antlered deer under this subsection may not take another antlered deer during the:
(A) archery season under subsection (d);
(B) firearm season under subsection (f); or
(C) muzzleloader season under subsection (g).
(3) A youth hunter who takes a deer under this subsection must be accompanied by an individual at least eighteen (18) years of age who:
(A) does not possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow while in the field, except for a handgun carried lawfully under IC 35-47-2;
(B) possesses a license to hunt a wild animal that is not an apprentice license, unless the individual is exempt from needing a license to hunt under IC 14-22-11-1 and 312 IAC 9-2-14;
(C) may not accompany more than two (2) youth hunters at one (1) time; and
(D) is in proximity and able to communicate with the youth hunters during the hunt.
(d) The archery deer season begins October 1 and ends the first Sunday in January. An individual may take not more than the number of deer permitted under 312 IAC 9-3-2 under this subsection.
(e) The deer reduction season is as follows:
(1) Begins September 15 and ends January 31 in a deer reduction zone.
(2) Under this subsection, an individual:
(A) may take not more than ten (10) deer, of which only one (1) deer may be an antlered deer; and
(B) shall take at least one (1) antlerless deer in a deer reduction zone before taking an antlered deer.
(3) A deer taken under this subsection does not count against a bag limit for deer under this rule.
(4) The Evansville deer reduction zone is the portion of Vanderburgh County south of East Boonville-New Harmony Road, except for the following areas:
(A) The area south of Interstate 164/Veterans Memorial Parkway from the Warrick County line to the east to where it intersects Main Street along the Ohio River Shore to the west.
(B) The area south of the intersection of Broadway Avenue and the Posey County line to the west, extending east to Bayou Creek Road and east to the Ohio River with Bayou Creek Road and extending east to the Ohio River.
(5) The Lafayette deer reduction zone is the portion of Tippecanoe County as follows:
(A) The area to the east, beginning at the intersection of Interstate 65 and County Road 600 North following Interstate 65 south to the junction with State Road 38.
(B) The area along State Road 38 from the intersection of Interstate 65 and State Road 38 west to Veterans Memorial Parkway/County Road 350 South, then south along Veterans Memorial Parkway west to the junction with U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52.
(C) The area from the intersection of Veterans Memorial Parkway/County Road 350 South and U.S. Highway 231 following U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 north to the junction with State Road 25.
(D) The area from the intersection of State Road 25 and U.S. Highway 231 south along State Road 25 to the intersection of County Road 300 South and State Road 25 South.
(E) The area from the intersection of State Road 25 South and County Road 300 South to the west along County Road 300 South to the intersection of County Road 300 South and County Road 700 West.
(F) The area from the intersection of County Road 700 West and County Road 300 South to the north along County Road 700 West to the intersection of County Road 700 West and Division Road/South River Road.
(G) The area from the intersection of County Road 700 West and Division Road/South River Road to the east along Division Road/South River Road to the intersection of Division Road/South River Road and South Newman Road.
(H) The area from the intersection of South Newman Road and Division Road/South River Road to the north along South Newman Road to the intersection of South Newman Road and State Road 26/State Street.
(I) The area from the intersection of South Newman Road and State Road 26/State Street to the east along State Road 26/State Street to the intersection of State Road 26/State Street and U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52.
(J) The area to the north along U.S. Highway 231 from the intersection of State Road 26/State Street and U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 to the intersection of U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 and State Road 52/U.S. Highway 231.
(K) The area to the west along State Road 52 from the intersection of State Road 52 and U.S. Highway 231/State Road 52 to the intersection of State Road 52 and County Road 400 West.
(L) The area to the north along County Road 400 West from the intersection of State Road 52/U.S. Highway 231 to the intersection of County Road 400 West and County Road 375 West.
(M) The area to the north along County Road 375 West from the junction with County Road 400 West to the intersection of County Road 375 West and County Road 600 North.
(N) The area to the east along County Road 600 North from the junction with County Road 375 West to the intersection of County Road 600 North and Interstate 65.
(6) The Michigan City/LaPorte deer reduction zone is the portion of LaPorte County between Lake Michigan and the following boundary:
(A) The area from the junction of the Porter/LaPorte County line and Interstate 94 to the east to the intersection of Interstate 94 and Johnson Road.
(B) The area from the intersection of Interstate 94 and Johnson Road to the south to the intersection of Johnson Road and County Road 500 West.
(C) The area from the south along County Road 500 West from the intersection at Johnson Road to the intersection of County Road 500 West and State Road 2.
(D) The area from the east along State Road 2 from the intersection at County Road 500 West to the intersection of State Road 2 and State Road 39/Longwood Drive.
(E) The area to the south along State Road 39/Longwood Drive from the intersection at State Road 2 to the intersection at County Road 400 South.
(F) The area to the east along County Road 400 South from the intersection at State Road 2 to the intersection at County Road 300 East.
(G) The area to the north along County Road 300 East from the intersection at County Road 400 South to the intersection at Division Road.
(H) The area to the west along Division Road from the intersection at County Road 300 East to the intersection at County Road 250 East.
(I) The area to the north along County Road 250 East from the intersection at Division Road to the intersection at County Road 150 North.
(J) The area to the west along County Road 150 North from the intersection at County Road 250 East to the intersection at Fail Road.
(K) The area to the north along North Fail Road from the intersection at County Road 150 North to the intersection at U.S. Highway 20.
(L) The area to the west along U.S. Highway 20 from the intersection at North Fail Road to the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 and Interstate 94.
(M) The area to the north along Interstate 94 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the junction with the Indiana/Michigan state line.
(7) The Muncie deer reduction zone is the portion of Delaware County as follows:
(A) The area at the intersection of Yorktown-Gaston Pike/County Road 600 West, extending east along State Road 332 East to the intersection at Nebo Road.
(B) The area to the north along Nebo Road from the intersection at State Road 332 to the intersection at County Road 500 North/Royerton Road.
(C) The area to the east along County Road 500 North/Royerton Road from the intersection at North Nebo Road to the intersection at U.S. Highway 35.
(D) The area to the south along U.S. Highway 35 from the intersection at County Road 500 North/Royerton Road to the intersection at State Road 67.
(E) The area to the south along State Road 67 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 35 to the intersection at County Road 400 South.
(F) The area to the west along County Road 400 South from the intersection at State Road 67 to the intersection at South Marsh Avenue/County Road 600 West.
(G) The area to the north along Marsh Avenue/County Road 600 West from the intersection at County Road 400 South to intersection at State Road 32.
(H) The area to the east along State Road 32 from the intersection at Marsh Avenue to the intersection at Tiger Drive/County Road 575 West.
(I) The area to the north along Tiger Drive/County Road 575 West from the intersection at State Road 32 to the intersection at River Road.
(J) The area to the west along River Road from the intersection at Tiger Drive to the intersection at Yorktown-Gaston Pike/County Road 600 West.
(K) The area to the north along Yorktown-Gaston Pike/County Road 600 West to the intersection at State Road 332.
(8) The South Bend/Mishawaka/Elkhart deer reduction zone is the portion of St. Joseph County and Elkhart County south of the Michigan state line as follows:
(A) The area at the junction of U.S. Highway 31 and the Indiana/Michigan state line to the south along U.S. Highway 31 to the intersection at U.S. Highway 20.
(B) The area to the east along U.S. Highway 20/U.S. Highway 31 to the intersection at County Road 17.
(C) The area to the north along County Road 17 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the junction with the Indiana/Michigan state line.
(9) The Warsaw deer reduction zone is the portion of Kosciusko County as follows:
(A) The area at the intersection of State Road 15 and Levi Lee Road, extending east to the intersection of Levi Lee Road and County Road 100 East.
(B) The area to the south along County Road 100 East from the intersection at Levi Lee Road to the intersection at County Road 450 North.
(C) The area to the east along County Road 450 North from the intersection at County Road 100 East to the intersection at Chapman Lake Drive.
(D) The area to the south along Chapman Lake Drive from the intersection at County Road 450 North to the intersection at County Road 300 East.
(E) The area to the south along County Road 300 East from the intersection at Chapman Lake Road to the intersection at Old U.S. Highway 30/E. Old Road 30.
(F) The area to the east on Old U.S. Highway 30/E. Old Road 30 from the intersection at County Road 300 East to the intersection at County Road 450 East.
(G) The area to the south along County Road 450 East from the intersection at Old U.S. Highway 30/E. Old Road 30 to the intersection at U.S. Highway 30.
(H) The area to the east on U.S. Highway 30 from the intersection at County Road 450 East to the intersection at Van Ness Road.
(I) The area to the south along Van Ness Road from the intersection at U.S. Highway 30 to the intersection at Wooster Road.
(J) The area to the west along Wooster Road from the intersection at Van Ness Road to the intersection at County Road 500 East.
(K) The area to the south along County Road 500 East from the intersection at Wooster Road to the intersection at County Road 350 South.
(L) The area to the west along County Road 350 South from the intersection at County Road 500 East to the intersection at County Road 450 East.
(M) The area to the south along County Road 450 East from the intersection at County Road 350 South to the intersection at County Road 400 South.
(N) The area to the west along County Road 400 South from the intersection at County Road 450 East to the intersection at State Road 15.
(O) The area to the north along State Road 15 from the intersection at County Road 400 South to the intersection at County Road 350 South.
(P) The area to the west along County Road 350 South from the intersection at State Road 15 to the intersection at County Road 450 West.
(Q) The area to the north along County Road 450 West from the intersection at County Road 350 South to the intersection at County Road 400 West.
(R) The area to the north along County Road 400 West from the intersection at County Road 450 West to the intersection at Crystal Lake Road.
(S) The area to the east along Crystal Lake Road from the intersection at County Road 400 West to the intersection at Zimmer Road.
(T) The area to the north along Zimmer Road from the intersection at Crystal Lake Road to the intersection at Lincoln Highway/Old U.S. Highway 30.
(U) The area to the west along Lincoln Highway/Old U.S. Highway 30 from the intersection at Zimmer Road to the intersection at County Road 350 West.
(V) The area to the north along County Road 350 West from the intersection at Lincoln Highway/Old U.S. Highway 30 to the intersection at U.S. Highway 30.
(W) The area to the east along U.S. Highway 30 from the intersection at County Road 350 West to the intersection at County Road 150 West/Silveus Crossing.
(X) The area to the north along County Road 150 West/Silveus Crossing from the intersection at U.S. Highway 30 to the intersection at County Road 400 North.
(Y) The area to the east along County Road 400 North from the intersection at County Road 150 West/Silveus Crossing to the intersection at State Road 15.
(Z) The area to the north along State Road 15 from the intersection at County Road 400 North to the intersection at Levi Lee Road.
(10) The Allen County deer reduction zone is the portion of Allen County as follows:
(A) The area between Interstate 69 and Interstate 469.
(B) The area to the west of Interstate 69 that extends north of Lafayette Center Road and south of State Road 14.
(C) The area west of Interstate 69 to the:
(i) north of U.S. Highway 30;
(ii) east of O Day Road to the intersection at State Road 33;
(iii) south of State Road 33 to the intersection at Johnson Road;
(iv) east of Johnson Road north to the intersection at West Shoaff Road;
(v) south of West Shoaff Road east to the intersection at State Road 3; and
(vi) east of State Road 3 north to the junction with the DeKalb County line.
(D) The area to the east of Interstate 69, to the north of Interstate 469, to the west of the St. Joseph River, and to the south of Schlatter Road.
(11) The Cordry-Sweetwater deer reduction zone is the portion of Brown County contained within the Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District.
(12) The Brown County deer reduction zone is the portion of Brown County as follows:
(A) The area not more than one-half (½) mile on either side of the centerline of State Road 46 from the Monroe County line to the Bartholomew County line.
(B) The area of Monroe Lake located not more than one-half (½) mile from the centerline of State Road 46.
(C) The area that is the management units of Yellowwood State Forest contained within the following tracts:
(i) Compartment 2, Tracts 2 and 40.
(ii) Compartment 3, Tracts 1 and 2.
(iii) Compartment 4, Tract 2.
(iv) Compartment 5, Tracts 5, 9, 10, 11, and 15.
(v) Compartment 8, Tract 27.
(vi) Compartment 9, Tract 1.
The Brown County deer reduction zone does not include any portion of Brown County State Park.
(13) The Dearborn County deer reduction zone is the portion of Dearborn County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (½) mile on either side of the centerline of the following road segments:
(A) The area of U.S. 50 from the Dearborn/Ripley County line east to the Indiana state line.
(B) The area of State Road 148 from the intersection at State Road 48, extending south to the intersection at U.S. 50.
(C) The area of State Road 48 from the intersection at State Road 148, extending south to the intersection at U.S. 50.
(14) The DeKalb County deer reduction zone is the portion of DeKalb County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (½) mile on either side of the centerline of Interstate 69 from the DeKalb/Steuben County line south to the DeKalb/Allen County line.
(15) The Fulton County deer reduction zone is a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (½) mile on either side of the centerline of U.S. Highway 31 from the Fulton/Marshall County line to the south to the intersection at State Road 14.
(16) The LaGrange County deer reduction zone is a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (½) mile on either side of the centerline of the following road segments:
(A) The area of U.S. Highway 20 from the intersection at State Road 9 to the east to the LaGrange/Steuben County line.
(B) The area of State Road 9 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the south to the LaGrange/Noble County line.
(C) The area of State Road 3 from the intersection at U.S. Highway 20 to the south to the LaGrange/Noble County line.
(17) The Lake County deer reduction zone is the portion of Lake County as follows:
(A) The area from north of the junction of the Indiana state line and 151st Avenue.
(B) The area from 151st Avenue east to the intersection at U.S. Highway 41.
(C) The area from U.S. Highway 41 south to the intersection at State Road 2.
(D) The area from State Road 2 east to the intersection at Interstate 65.
(E) The area from Interstate 65 north to the intersection at 145th Avenue.
(F) The area from 145th Avenue east to the intersection at U.S. Highway 231.
(G) The area from U.S. Highway 231 south to the junction with the Porter County line.
(18) The Madison County deer reduction zone is the portion of Madison County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (½) mile on either side of the centerline of Interstate 69 from the Madison/Hamilton County line east to the Madison/Delaware County line.
(19) The Griffy Lake Nature Preserve deer reduction zone is the portion of Monroe County contained in the Griffy Lake Nature Preserve.
(20) The Monroe County deer reduction zone is the portion of Monroe County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (½) mile on either side of the centerline of State Road 37 from the Interstate 69 split south to the junction with the Monroe/Lawrence County line.
(21) The Porter County deer reduction zone is the portion of Porter County as follows:
(A) The area from north of the junction of U.S. Highway 231 and the Porter/Lake County line.
(B) The area to the east along U.S. Highway 231 to the intersection at State Road 2.
(C) The area to the north along State Road 2 north to the intersection at Division Road.
(D) The area to the east along Division Road to the junction with the LaPorte County line.
(22) The Steuben County deer reduction zone is the portion of Steuben County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (½) mile on either side of the centerline of the following road segments:
(A) The area of Interstate 69 from the Indiana state line south to the junction with the Steuben/DeKalb County line.
(B) The area of Interstate 80/90 Toll Road from the Steuben/LaGrange County line east to the intersection at Interstate 69.
(C) The area of U.S. Highway 20 from the Steuben/LaGrange County line east to the intersection at Interstate 69.
(23) The Wabash County deer reduction zone is the portion of Wabash County that includes a privately owned parcel of land that has a portion located not more than one-half (½) mile on either side of the centerline of State Road 114 from the junction with the Wabash/Fulton County line east to the intersection at State Road 13.
(24) The Warrick County deer reduction zone is the portion of Warrick County extending south of State Road 62 from the junction with the Warrick/Vanderburgh County line, then to the intersection at State Road 61 as follows:
(A) The area to the south along State Road 61 to the intersection at State Road 66.
(B) The area to the west along State Road 66 to the intersection at the French Island Trail.
(C) The area to the west along the French Island Trail to the intersection at Jennings Street.
(D) The area to the west along Jennings Street to the intersection at Old State Road 662.
(E) The area to the west along Old State Road 662 to the intersection at State Road 662.
(F) The area to the west along State Road 662 to the junction with the Warrick/Vanderburgh County line.
(25) The deer reduction zones in central Indiana are as follows:
(A) Marion County.
(B) The area in Johnson County to the south from the Marion County line as follows:
(i) The area to the west of Interstate 65 and south to the intersection of Interstate 65 and Whiteland Road.
(ii) The area to the west along Whiteland Road to the intersection at State Road 144.
(iii) The area to the west along State Road 144 to the intersection at State Road 37.
(iv) The area to the south along State Road 37 to the junction with the Johnson/Morgan County line.
(C) The area in Morgan County to the north of the junction of State Road 37 and the Morgan/Johnson County line as follows:
(i) The area to the west of State Road 37 South to the intersection of State Road 37 and State Road 39/Morton Avenue.
(ii) The area to the north along State Road 39/Morton Avenue from the intersection at State Road 37 to the intersection at State Road 67.
(iii) The area to the north along State Road 67 from the intersection at State Road 39 to the intersection at Indiana Street/State Road 267.
(iv) The area to the north along Indiana Street/State Road 267 from the intersection at State Road 67 to the intersection at State Road 42/High Street.
(v) The area to the west along State Road 42/High Street from the intersection at Indiana Street/State Road 267 to the intersection at State Road 267.
(vi) The area to the north along State Road 267 to the junction with the Morgan/Hendricks County line.
(D) The area in Hendricks County to the east of State Road 267 from the Morgan County line north to the Boone County line.
(E) The area in Boone County to the east of State Road 267 from the Hendricks County line north to the intersection at Interstate 65 as follows:
(i) The area from Interstate 65 south to the intersection at State Road 334.
(ii) The area to the east to the intersection at Ford Road/County Road 975 East/Pleasantview Road.
(iii) The area to the north to the intersection at County Road 300 South.
(iv) The area from County Road 300 South east to the junction with the Hamilton County line.
(F) The area in Hamilton County to the south of State Road 32 from the Boone County line east to the junction with U.S. Highway 31 as follows:
(i) The area to the north along U.S. Highway 31 to the intersection at 236th Street.
(ii) The area to the east along 236thStreet to the intersection at State Road 19.
(iii) The area to the south along State Road 19 to the intersection at State Road 32.
(iv) The area to the east along State Road 32 to the junction with the Madison County line.
(f) The firearms deer season begins the first Saturday after November 11 and ends after an additional fifteen (15) days. An individual may take not more than one (1) antlered deer under this subsection with a firearms license.
(g) The deer hunting season to use a muzzleloading long gun or muzzleloading handgun begins the first Saturday after the closing day of the firearms season under subsection (f) and ends after an additional fifteen (15) days. An individual may take not more than the number of deer authorized by 312 IAC 9-3-2 under this subsection.
(h) The bag limit by county to take an antlerless deer is as follows:
(1) Two (2) deer in Adams County.
(2) Three (3) deer in Allen County.
(3) Three (3) deer in Bartholomew County.
(4) Two (2) deer in Benton County.
(5) Two (2) deer in Blackford County.
(6) Three (3) deer in Boone County.
(7) Four (4) deer in Brown County.
(8) Three (3) deer in Carroll County.
(9) Three (3) deer in Cass County.
(10) Three (3) deer in Clark County.
(11) Three (3) deer in Clay County.
(12) Three (3) deer in Clinton County.
(13) Four (4) deer in Crawford County.
(14) Three (3) deer in Daviess County.
(15) Four (4) deer in Dearborn County.
(16) Two (2) deer in Decatur County.
(17) Three (3) deer in DeKalb County.
(18) Three (3) deer in Delaware County.
(19) Three (3) deer in Dubois County.
(20) Three (3) deer in Elkhart County.
(21) Three (3) deer in Fayette County.
(22) Four (4) deer in Floyd County.
(23) Three (3) deer in Fountain County.
(24) Three (3) deer in Franklin County.
(25) Three (3) deer in Fulton County.
(26) Three (3) deer in Gibson County.
(27) Three (3) deer in Grant County.
(28) Three (3) deer in Greene County.
(29) Three (3) deer in Hamilton County.
(30) Two (2) deer in Hancock County.
(31) Four (4) deer in Harrison County.
(32) Three (3) deer in Hendricks County.
(33) Three (3) deer in Henry County.
(34) Three (3) deer in Howard County.
(35) Three (3) deer in Huntington County.
(36) Four (4) deer in Jackson County.
(37) Three (3) deer in Jasper County.
(38) Two (2) deer in Jay County.
(39) Four (4) deer in Jefferson County.
(40) Four (4) deer in Jennings County.
(41) Three (3) deer in Johnson County.
(42) Three (3) deer in Knox County.
(43) Three (3) deer in Kosciusko County.
(44) Three (3) deer in LaGrange County.
(45) Three (3) deer in Lake County.
(46) Three (3) deer in LaPorte County.
(47) Four (4) deer in Lawrence County.
(48) Three (3) deer in Madison County.
(49) Three (3) deer in Marion County.
(50) Three (3) deer in Marshall County.
(51) Three (3) deer in Martin County.
(52) Three (3) deer in Miami County.
(53) Four (4) deer in Monroe County.
(54) Three (3) deer in Montgomery County.
(55) Four (4) deer in Morgan County.
(56) Three (3) deer in Newton County.
(57) Three (3) deer in Noble County.
(58) Three (3) deer in Ohio County.
(59) Four (4) deer in Orange County.
(60) Four (4) deer in Owen County.
(61) Three (3) deer in Parke County.
(62) Four (4) deer in Perry County.
(63) Three (3) deer in Pike County.
(64) Three (3) deer in Porter County.
(65) Three (3) deer in Posey County.
(66) Three (3) deer in Pulaski County.
(67) Three (3) deer in Putnam County.
(68) Two (2) deer in Randolph County.
(69) Four (4) deer in Ripley County.
(70) Two (2) deer in Rush County.
(71) Three (3) deer in St. Joseph County.
(72) Four (4) deer in Scott County.
(73) Two (2) deer in Shelby County.
(74) Three (3) deer in Spencer County.
(75) Three (3) deer in Starke County.
(76) Three (3) deer in Steuben County.
(77) Three (3) deer in Sullivan County.
(78) Three (3) deer in Switzerland County.
(79) Three (3) deer in Tippecanoe County.
(80) Two (2) deer in Tipton County.
(81) Three (3) deer in Union County.
(82) Three (3) deer in Vanderburgh County.
(83) Three (3) deer in Vermillion County.
(84) Three (3) deer in Vigo County.
(85) Three (3) deer in Wabash County.
(86) Three (3) deer in Warren County.
(87) Three (3) deer in Warrick County.
(88) Four (4) deer in Washington County.
(89) Three (3) deer in Wayne County.
(90) Two (2) deer in Wells County.
(91) Three (3) deer in White County.
(92) Three (3) deer in Whitley County.
SECTION 3. This rule expires August 24, 2027.
LSA Document #26-202
Approved by Governor: June 10, 2026
Filed with Publisher: August 24, 2026, 2:38 p.m.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: None Received by Publisher
Indiana Register 20260902-IR-312260260IFA LSA Document 260260
TITLE 312 NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION
Interim Final Rule
LSA Document #26-260
DIGEST
WATERFOWL HUNTING
Temporarily supplements 312 IAC 9-4-2 concerning the waterfowl season dates, bag limits, and zones for the fall 2026-2027 seasons. Effective August 24, 2026. Expires August 24, 2027.
HISTORY
Notice of Public Comment Period for Interim Rule: 20260722-IR-312260260INA
Regulatory Analysis submitted with Notice of Public Comment Period for Interim Rule: 20260722-IR-312260260RAA
SUMMARY/RESPONSE TO COMMENTS
The Natural Resources Commission (commission), in coordination with the Department of Natural Resources (department), requested public comment on the proposed interim rule from July 22, 2026, through August 21, 2026. The commission, in coordination with the department, received no comments in response to the Notice of Public Comment Period for Interim Rule.
INTERIM RULE
SECTION 1. (a) This SECTION is supplemental to 312 IAC 9-4-2.
(b) As used in this SECTION, the hunting zones for hunting waterfowl and migratory birds are as follows:
(1) The North Zone is that part of Indiana north of a line extending east from the Illinois border along State Road 18 to U.S. 31; north along U.S. 31 to U.S. 24; east along U.S. 24 to Huntington; southeast along U.S. 224; south along State Road 5; and east along State Road 124 to the Ohio border.
(2) The Central Zone is that part of Indiana south of the North Zone boundary and north of the South Zone boundary.
(3) The South Zone is that part of Indiana south of a line extending east from the Illinois border along I-70; east along National Avenue; east along U.S. 150; south along U.S. 41; east along State Road 58; south along State Road 37 to Bedford; and east along U.S. 50 to the Ohio border.
(c) An individual may hunt the following during the following dates:
(1) For teal, from September 5 through September 13, 2026.
(2) For ducks, coots, and mergansers, as follows:
(A) In the North Zone, from October 24, 2026, through December 13, 2026, and December 19, 2026, through December 27, 2026.
(B) In the Central Zone, from October 31, 2026, through November 8, 2026, and November 21, 2026, through January 10, 2027.
(C) In the South Zone, from November 7, 2026, through November 8, 2026, and November 28, 2026, through January 24, 2027.
(3) For Canada geese, light geese, and brant, as follows:
(A) In the North Zone, from September 5, 2026, through September 13, 2026, October 24, 2026, through November 1, 2026, and November 21, 2026, through February 14, 2027.
(B) In the Central Zone, from September 5, 2026, through September 13, 2026, October 31, 2026, through November 8, 2026, and November 21, 2026, through February 14, 2027.
(C) In the South Zone, from September 1, 2026, through September 13, 2026, November 7, 2026, through November 11, 2026, and November 21, 2026, through February 14, 2027.
(4) For white-fronted geese, from November 21, 2026, through February 14, 2027, in all zones.
(5) For youth under eighteen (18) years of age on the date of the hunt, veteran, and active-duty military only, ducks, coots, mergansers, Canada geese, light geese, white-fronted geese, and brant, as follows:
(A) In the North Zone, from October 17, 2026, through October 18, 2026.
(B) In the Central Zone, from October 24, 2026, through October 25, 2026.
(C) In the South Zone, from October 31, 2026, through November 1, 2026.
(6) For sora rail, from September 1, 2026, through November 9, 2026.
(7) For mourning doves, from September 1, 2026, through October 18, 2026, November 1, 2026, through November 29, 2026, and December 19, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
(8) For American woodcock, from October 15, 2026, through November 28, 2026.
(9) For Wilson's snipe, from September 1, 2026, through December 16, 2026.
(10) For falconry, the following dates apply:
(A) For American woodcock, from September 20, 2026, through October 14, 2026, and November 29, 2026, through January 4, 2027.
(B) For mourning doves, from October 19, 2026, through October 31, 2026, and January 1, 2027, through January 4, 2027.
(C) For ducks, coots, and mergansers in the North Zone, from September 27, 2026, through September 30, 2026, and February 14, 2027, through March 10, 2027.
(D) For ducks, coots, and mergansers in the Central Zone, from October 24, 2026, through October 30, 2026, and February 17, 2027, through March 10, 2027.
(E) For ducks, coots, and mergansers in the South Zone, from October 31, 2026, through November 6, 2026, and February 17, 2027, through March 10, 2027.
(d) An individual may take not more than the following per calendar day:
(1) Six (6) teal in any combination of blue-winged and green-winged teal. The possession limit is eighteen (18) teal. No teal hunting is allowed on the Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area.
(2) An individual may take not more than six (6) ducks in any combination as follows:
(A) Only two (2) black ducks.
(B) Only two (2) canvasbacks.
(C) Only four (4) mallards, including not more than two (2) females.
(3) Only one (1) mottled duck.
(4) Only three (3) pintails.
(5) Only two (2) redheads.
(6) Only one (1) scaup before November 8, 2026, in the North Zone, before November 27, 2026, in the Central Zone, before December 11, 2026, in the South Zone, and the youth days under subsection (c)(5).
(7) Only three (3) wood ducks.
(8) Only five (5) mergansers, including not more than two (2) hooded mergansers.
(9) Only fifteen (15) coots may be taken.
(10) Only five (5) geese in the aggregate of Canada geese and brant.
(11) Only twenty (20) in the aggregate of light geese (e.g., snow geese, blue geese, and Ross' geese).
(12) Only two (2) white-fronted geese.
(13) Only twenty-five (25) sora rails.
(14) Only fifteen (15) mourning doves.
(15) Only three (3) American woodcock.
(16) Only eight (8) Wilson's snipe.
(e) In addition to subsection (d), an individual may possess not more than three (3) times the daily bag limit of ducks, coots, and mergansers.
(f) An individual may possess not more than three (3) times the daily bag limit of Canada geese and brant, with the exception of light geese that have no possession limit.
(g) An individual may possess not more than three (3) times the daily bag limit of each of the following:
(1) Sora rail.
(2) Mourning dove.
(3) American woodcock.
(4) Wilson's snipe.
(h) For youth hunting under subsection (c)(5), the youth hunters must be seventeen (17) years of age or younger on the day of the hunt. The youth hunter must also be accompanied by an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age. An adult may accompany more than one (1) youth, but the accompanying adult must have a valid hunting license and may not hunt waterfowl, except for veterans, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101, and members of the armed forces of the United States on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty (other than for training).
SECTION 2. This rule expires August 24, 2027.
LSA Document #26-260
Filed with Publisher: August 24, 2026, 1:07 p.m.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: None Received by Publisher
Continue your research in ChatGPT or Claude
Connect Omnilex to search the legal corpus from your AI assistant.